DARKNESS IN CHIMA

Part Two: The Shoring of the Sides

Chapter V

It was getting late by the time the group visiting the other tribes returned to the Lion City. Laval and his half of the Guardians came into the palace's briefing room and found Lagravis there waiting for them. Eris did not return to the city, instead returning directly to the Eagle Spire. Li'ella decided to retire for the night upon returning to the city, so she went to her and her father Tormak's house instead of the palace.

"Ah, you're back," the old lion looked tired but pleasant. "Did you hear of anything suspicious?"

"Well, not about the Crawlers," Lloyd replied.

Lagravis frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Just the wolves being the wolves," Laval waved it off. "They say Worriz is ill, and they have a tradition that no one can leave their city until he's better."

"Hm," Lagravis grunted. "That is not a tradition I have heard before, but then again, I long ago resigned to admit I will never understand the Wolf Tribe."

Lloyd shook his head. "I've seen a lot of weird since I became a ninja. That was suspicious."

Lagravis nodded. "We will check on the Wolf Tribe again soon to see if we can confirm your suspicions."

At that point, the briefing room doors swung open, and the rest of the Guardians came in.

"And there's everyone else; welcome back," Lagravis smiled. "What did the spider queen say?"

"To leave her tribe alone," Mack answered flatly. "She's not interested in any kind of alliance with you, but she did say that the scorpions and bats are building a fortress somewhere—she didn't seem to know where—and that the attack on the crocodiles were the scorpion king's way of toughening up his army."

Laval squinted. "Then why steal the Chi? I thought they swore it off."

"The Chi was the flag they were trying to capture," Mack explained. "The scorpion king would know his troops were ready for whatever it is they're planning when they managed to steal Chi from the vault."

"The Crawlers might just throw the Chi away, then," Laterus theorized.

Laval suddenly looked bashful. "The last time someone did that didn't work out too well…"

Lagravis chuckled. "You were being selfish back then, my son. They simply don't want it."

But Mack was not convinced. "I'm not so sure. I have a sense that they're up to something more than just using the crocodiles as a training exercise. I expressed as much to the spider queen, and she either didn't know or wouldn't say what that might be."

"I see…" Lagravis pondered this for a moment before speaking again.

"Well, it is late, and there is little more we do tonight. We will do well to get a good night's sleep and put our heads together in the morning to decide our next move. Laval, would you please show our guests to—"

Lagravis was interrupted when a lion guard burst into the briefing room, looking out of breath.

"Lagravis!" he cried. "My lord, the ravens have sounded their raid alarm."

A chill came over Mack. "They're watching us," he said darkly.

"You think they waited for us to all get back here before attacking the ravens?" Lloyd asked.

"It looks like you're right, Green Ninja," Lagravis said. "There is something sinister behind all this."

Laval decided to take charge. "We need to move. Laterus, you've had a long day. I'll take the Guardians and we'll help the ravens; you get some rest."

"As you wish—do be careful." Laterus was silently relieved to be done with action for the day. "I'll call down and have the Speedors ready by the time you get to the hangar."

"No," Mack interrupted. "We can get there faster on our dragons."

Laval started. "I'm sorry, did you say… dragons?"

A few moments later, the Guardians and their energy dragons were airborne, with Laval riding with Mack and pointing out the way to Raven Town.

When they set down outside the town gates, they were greeted by pandemonium. The ravens were running about in the chaos, so concerned about the possibility of missing goods that they almost didn't notice the flock of dragons arriving.

One raven managed to use his common sense and let Razar know that Laval had arrived and brought Guardians with him again.

"Laval, my friend." Razar looked relieved. "Thank you for coming so quickly, and in such dramatic fashion!"

"Who raided you?" Laval asked. "Are they gone?"

"Bats!" Razar screeched. "It was bats! They took off right after we sounded the alarm. We are frantically taking inventory; so far, it looks like none of our merchandise was taken."

Most of the ravens calmed down, and Laval and the Guardians set to helping the ravens clean up their town. Nothing may have been stolen, but the bats sure made a mess of the place (as did the ravens in their panic).

"Inventory complete," Razar said, speaking to Mack and Pete who had just helped someone fix their door. "None of our goods are missing, thank heavens."

Pete frowned. "Then what were those bats here for?"

"Razar! Guys!" Laval called out from down the street. "Check this out!"

Razar, Mack, and Pete went to Laval, and they all entered what appeared to be a laboratory. Vials and strange machines were broken and thrown around the room.

"Looks like a twister hit this place," Mack exclaimed.

"This is Reegull's lab," Razar explained.

Laval scowled. "Reegull? That guy caused us some real trouble a while back."

"Well, now he might be in some real trouble," Razar said. "I haven't seen him around since the raid, and he's always here—always. Maybe they took him!"

"I'll signal the Eagles," Laval resolved. "They can help us search. It's a stretch at night, but maybe they can spot the bats before they get back to this 'fortress' of theirs."

Mack spotted a note on a desk. He picked it up and his eyes went wide.

"Laval, wait!" Mack called before Laval made it out the door. "Some one left this note."

Mack handed Laval the note.

Follow the bats and the freak raven dies.

"This is a weird move for the Crawlers," Laval said, concern evident in his voice. "Sneaking in, causing a distraction, kidnapping? They've never been organized enough to do things like that."

"Someone is leading them," Mack concluded. "We know they're strong on their own, but if they're getting organized now…"

Laval finished the thought: "They could really be a force to be reckoned with."

"Yeah," Mack nodded. "Razar, do you know why the Crawlers would want to kidnap Reegull."

Razar facepalmed. "Well, Reegull has a very particular set of skills. He was kind of the town alchemist, but the Raven Tribe officially forbade him to practice alchemy since what we've called the Chicken Chi scandal a little over a year ago. He cooked up a Chi that makes you act like a chicken when you plug it. Even I wouldn't sell such a stupid thing."

"Wait," Mack said, very concerned at this information, "he works with Chi?"

At the shadowy fortress deep in the Outlands, Reegull was dragged by his bat captors past a wolf who looked tortured nearly to death. He was then taken into a dark, almost empty room and roughly thrown to the floor in front of Tenebris. The bats promptly left the room, leaving Reegull and Tenebris alone.

Reegull had never seen anything like Tenebris before, and he quaked as the shadow was silent.

"Wh—what is it you want with m—me?" the eagle-raven hybrid stammered.

Tenebris knelt to be at eye-level with Reegull. "I have need of your… unique talents."

Reegull frowned. "Talents?"

"Yes," Tenebris nodded. "I have heard of your ability to alter Chi."

"But—but my Chi just makes everyone act like birds."

"I only need your crafting abilities, not your magical skills." Tenebris stood up. "I have been traveling in the months since I arrived in this realm, and I have managed to acquire the power we need. I only need you to infuse this power into already-existing Chi orbs.

"So, you understand, I have no interest in your Chi. We will be working together to create my Chi."

Reegull considered for a moment. Could this finally be his claim to fame—heck, at this point he'd even take infamy. Anything to cease being the laughing stock he was.

"Very well," Reegull finally said. "What can I do for you, boss?"

Tenebris had a snarly laugh. "Stand, walk with me. We have much to discuss."

Sorry I made y'all wait a while for an update, you know how the holidays can get. Hopefully the relatively rapid succession of the last chapter and this one makes up for it.

As always, thanks for reading! The next chapter will be the beginning of Part Three...