For the entire afternoon, Lydia started to feel better. Aikka gave her a tour of the castle. Her ears took in the sweet music outside. The colorful tapestries that told stories of the people who lived here. Even the King and Queen were kind enough to share a few words in their language to improve her speech amongst the guards. Eva, Rush, Spirit and even Sagittarius were all having a wonderful time observing the castle. Lydia giggled a few times when Sagittarius was admiring the stonework of each arch of the castle.
"Look at these statues!" Sagittarius gushed. His yellow eyes sparkled with delight. His ears vibrated with excitement. A few of the guards watched this with amusement. "Years upon years of dedication. The stoic face of the kings. The figures of the queens perfected in a way where time wouldn't ravage their memories." He tried to touch the thin arm of the queen but a guard stopped him. The Crog backed away slowly.
Rush barked out a laugh. "You really are enjoying yourself, aren't you?"
Sagittarius blushed. "I just don't exactly have the freedom to express it as much. Those that I do talk with always groan and say 'quit it with the pointless stuff and get workn'."
"Is that why you were hostile toward Brinnia in the beginning?" Lydia asked.
Sagittarius's ears drooped. His memories clouded with sorrow. "Yes…At first I only took her prisoner to prove myself. But…I wanted to learn about this planet so badly…I wanted to know her. I know what I did was wrong, but we've both figured that no amount of harm would fix anything. Would only set a few things straight, but barely changes the situation we're trapped in."
Lydia nodded. "I know what you mean. For thousands of years, humans fought each other for resources. Hating each other over and over. Now that hate seems to have launched itself to the stars." Her eyes focused on the leaders. "I think…despite our differences, we're alike in some way. We like things. We feel pain. We want to get better overtime. Right now…It's just hard to see that. Plus the hurt we inflict doesn't go away overnight. You and Brinnia knew that, but I guess the only reason you grew close was because you got tired of feeling hatred and anger toward something that you don't have over something that should never have existed in the first place."
"Which is?"
"Difference."
There was a heavy silence. It was even enough to silence the giant bugs that were roaming near the palace. Everyone just stood there. Taking in Lydia's words as if she just recited an enchanting spell. Were they really different? Sure, every alien race was tall or thin. Slimy or rocky. Struggles…Seemed to overlap.
Lydia stiffened. She couldn't explain why, but her body was on edge. Her tails and fur stood on end. A scent drifted on the wind. It was repugnant. It almost made her ill. Faint rustling, followed by heavy breathing entered the silence. However, it wasn't heading toward them. It was heading to something else. Her fox ears twitched. Lydia looked around. Then, she saw a tower through a window. The sounds were in that direction.
Lydia turned to the nearest guard. She pointed to the tower. "Where does that lead?"
"To the queen's quarters." The guard answered.
"Get the King!" Lydia shouted. Before anyone could ask what was going on, Lydia took off her shoes and jumped out of the window. The moment Lydia started to fall was the moment she realized what a horrible mistake that was. She screamed as she fell from twenty feet. Suddenly, her tails formed a spike causing her to bounce for a moment before she fell on her butt. "Ow…" She rubbed her but. Her ears soon picked up a scream. "No, no, no, no…" Her feet began to pick up speed as she went for the tower. Before she could even think of how to get up there, her body took command. Her hands grabbed at each vine. Her feet pushed against the stone. She soon peeked across the window.
She gasped in horror. Eyes widened in the torn up bedroom. Curtains ripped. A crib was turned over. Looming over the two frightened Nourasian was a monster. The same grotesque monsters from the Phils planet had somehow gotten to Nourasia. This monster reassembled a skeletal minotaur. Nostrils flared. Red eyes focused on the Queen and Narai. The Queen whimpered. Her arms tightly held her crying child. The monster raised its claws high. It was delivering the final blow.
"Noooo!" Lydia jumped into the room. Her speed doubled as she tackled the creature to the ground. Her teeth sharpened. She bit into the creature's arm. A deafening roar erupted into the room. It pushed Lydia away. However, Lydia refused to let it come anywhere near mother and child. She growled and lunged. This time she dragged the monster out of another window. The two fell out and landed in the middle of the courtyard.
Shouts and horns soon sounded in the area. Guards ran out to see what the commotion was. Spears pointed at the two. Eva and the others soon arrived with the King in tow. "Lydia! Are you-" She gasped at the monsters. "They're here too?!"
"How did they even find us?" Rush asked.
Sagittarius narrowed his eyes. "I bet it's those chips I found amongst the dust." He looked at Rush. "I found out about it only after Lydia's fit. I was going to tell you all but-" His ears shot up. "Wait! They must be more near the outskirts of the castle and the city." He turned to the king. "Your Majesty. The people of Nourasia are in danger! You must have the village on lockdown or someone could be taken."
The King was silent for a moment. He thought for a moment. Then, he waved a guard over. "Send scouts to search the area. If there are more of these things nearby, get the civilians to safety and attack on sight." The guard bowed and left.
"Look!" Rush yelled. He pointed at the arena.
Lydia suddenly got down on all fours. Her gray eyes turned silver. All of her tails arched. The beast snorted. It charged at her. Then, she let out a high pitch wail that nearly deafened everyone. She charged once the creature was stunned. Her arms rippled as she grabbed ahold of the creature. Then flung it into the air. It went back down with a heavy slam. It twitched, but didn't move. Lydia breathed heavily. Her head raised again. She sniffed the air. Her growl came back. She barked out an order in a strange language. She then ran to a nearby hallway, attacking a wall. A wall that had a strange shadow in it.
Spirit also spotted it. He ran forward and snatched the shadow before it could kill a nearby guard. This one was a mix of a Praying Mantis with an Earwig. Its pincers tried to take out Spirit's head, but Ishtar dismantled the creature with one clean bite. Spirit and the guard stared in amazement as the little boar had grown in size once again. Eyes glowing bright green. Tusks sharper than before.
Alon and Symphony were also in their enlarged forms. Eyes glowing bright. They past the guards with ease. Raking the shadows with fins and talons. The monsters appeared again in a large horde. Everyone stared in horror at this disturbing sight. The threat was right under their noses this whole time. Alon, Symphony and Ishtar formed a ring around their mistress. Heads pointed to the sky. A unanimous sound erupted. A strange melody lost to time. Rings of colored light exploded into the air. Winds howled. Water churned. Even the earth lashed out in pure rage against the monsters.
Eva grunted. She clasped her hands over her ears. Eyes shut tight. Aikka wrapped his arms around her to protect her. When it was over, Eva slowly opened her eyes and lowered her hands. She was shocked at a sight before her. The monsters were defeated. Not only that, but Lydia's tails held the Nourasian Queen and princess. Mother and child were unharmed. The courtyard had flowers and ice scattered around. The winds give off a sweet smell.
"Darling!" The King ran out with Aikka close behind. Lydia lowered her tails to allow the Queen to reunite with her family.
The Queen shifted her arms to hug her husband. "My dear king! I'm so glad you're alright."
"How did you get down here?" Aikka asked. He couldn't help but hug his mother. Despite being a prince, he was still a child who deeply loved his mother.
A howl resounded. Everyone turned their attention to Lydia. Her silver form pointed to the sky. Ears flipped back. When the sound stopped, her eyes turned to everyone. She gave a peaceful smile.
"There was another beast coming for us." The Queen explained. Her daughter giggled in her arms. She smiled. "Lydia was able to grab us with those beautiful tails of hers and got us out."
"That's the true power of the Kitsellus." The King gazed in wonder.
Eva gave a smile back to Lydia. Looks like there's still more learning to do.