Upstairs Chiaki tossed and turned uneasily in her sleep. She was in a dark place, with someone trying to call out to her. It was faint and so far away. All she could do was run towards the voice. 'Hello?!" She called. 'Where am I? Is anyone here!?'

(..nd me...)

The darkness began to shift, becoming lighter, first a dark purple, then softer, then blue. The once empty expanse now had a sandstone floor. Its creamy color was almost blinding until the rest of the void became pillars and a blue sky.

'Where are you?!' Chiaki called.

(I- ..ed y..r help...-)

She could feel the stone below her feet, could hear the harsh slapping sound as she rushed ever forward. The floor and pillars and sky looked endless. Still she ran.

'Where?! How can I help? Who are you?!' She yelled at the voice.

(B..st- ..d- Be...- god-)

In-front of her it became brighter. Blue-yellow... a color that was both and neither, refusing to become green. Yellow-white. White-

Chiaki thrust her hands towards the brightness. It was like trying to push through a thick liquid. She forced herself onward.

(You are here!)

The voice rang out joyfully. It was so loud and clear. Chiaki stumbled forward, unsure of how or when she had passed through the barrier of light. 'Wha-?'

She was in a room. One of the same bright sandstone. Looking at her was a small male child with blue-green fins where his ears should have been. His hair was cut short and messy, and it was the color of seaweed. (You made it.) The boy said. Chiaki recognized the voice as the one she had been chasing... and the one she had heard when awake.

'Who are you? Where am I?' Chiaki asked.

(This is what remains of the realm of the Beast God. I am Tobi, one of the Beast Gods voices. A soul that can speak the will of the Beast God to the living.)

'Then you aren't the Beast God?'

Tobi shook his head. (The Beast God sleeps at this moment. His power and connection to the world dwindles...)

'Did you bring me here?'

(I was tasked with bringing a female from another world to that of the beasts. You are the female I found.) He paused. (It was your own willpower that brought you to this realm though. Your time here is short. Please listen.)

Chiaki nodded. She had been answered so readily that she believed the child's words. 'I'll listen.'

Tobi drew in a deep breath. (The Beast God created the world you have came to. He was known to all beasts and praised. However, very few groups still offer up worship to Him. His physical form in the mortal realm was attacked and killed, but that will not kill a God. However, He can no longer walk with His peoples, can not give divine blessings, can not help His people who are in need... Without the devotion of His people the Beast God rests in this realm until His power is restored. He tasked his voices to use their own divine power to bring outsiders to the world and have them lead His people into the future. He can no longer interfere in the realm of the living, but through your connection to a Voice of the Beast God, you can be given blessings that will help all of the beast kind.)

Chiaki stood, stunned at the revelations she had just heard. How would she remember it all? Did that mean Ji Mo and Qingqing had also been brought to the beast world by a voice? 'Are their others... like me?'

Tobi nodded. (It is time for you to return. Bring praise to the Beast God and in return you will gain divine gifts.)

'Wait! I have so much more to ask-'

Chiaki sat up in her sleeping furs. Her hand was still outstretched towards a figure that no longer stood before her. She dropped her arm, as her heart raced.

Beside her Kimba lay on the sleeping furs, asleep with a large full belly. She smiled, her cub was too cute! She didn't find his form odd anymore, having came to terms with the reality of the world.

The world. The words and images she had witnessed in her sleep were still clear in her mind, burned into memory. "Uh... Voice Tobi?"

(I am here.) Echoed the child's voice in her head.

"Is being able to speak to Kimba my... divine gift?" She glanced to her cub, keeping her voice low.

(You now can understand the languages of all beast kind.)

Chiaki smiled. Being able to understand her cub was gift enough, but to understand all beast men in their transformed state? Amazing!

(I have enough energy to give you another divine gift. The wonder you caused in your cub by understanding him became praise for the Beast God, and as such a part of that comes to me. Do you desire anything else?)

Chiaki touched her lips. Another divine gift? She didn't even know what she could ask for, let alone come up with a request on the spot. "Not at this time. Thank you.. Tobi."

(You should be able to see the world as anyone with a divine gift can. If you can think of a way to view it... you should be able to make it so.)

"View the world?" Chiaki questioned. A soft blue light shimmered into view and she couldn't keep from touching it. The blue light wavered becoming a screen. "Is this... a status screen?"

(I can not see how you are viewing the information of the world.)

"Oh... uh... it looks like a status screen from a Japanese Role Playing Game." Chiaki clarified.

(As long as you understand it, it will suffice.)

"Okay." Chiaki waved her hand through the screen, causing it to waver and disappear from her sight.

~Mama?~

Chiaki jumped and looked over at Kimba. "Wha-?!"

~Is there a bug? You are waving your hands around.~ Kimba rolled off of his back and sat on his haunches, looking up at his mother. ~Are you okay?~

Chiaki gathered him into her arms. "Mama is fine, baby."

~Good! Father Qianhuang and father Curtis left to go hunting. I got to guard you! Did I do good?!~

Chiaki laughed at the excitement in her cubs voice. "Very good! Mama's little protector!"

Kimba puffed out his chest in pride. ~YAY! I love you mama.~

"I love you too, my little Kimba."