Chapter 23- entering Nuvem and investigating its lockdown
Meanwhile
Quaoar and his group rode in the Sky Cart which was basically like a sky monorail crossed with a tram and like a monorail it ran along a single track. The Sky Cart network was the main interlinking transportation system in the Sky Domain and functioned like a train or tram systems in our world on the land. The cities and towns, as well as the Sky countryside in the Sky Domain floated on large clouds that served as floating islands for the area and the Sky Cart network, besides the Bifrost Transporter, linked them together. Thus the Sky Cart network served as the second fastest mode of transport for the Sky Domain inhabitants after the Bifrost, and alongside other non-Bifrost modes of transport like Flying Carpets. The Sky Cart also had big cars to allow the transportation of species that grew very tall like Cloud-Men and Land Domain Giants. As the Sky Cart train continued to run along its single track, some of Quaoar's assistants, among them Naihanchi, peered out through the window and gazed at the greenery of the Land Domain FAR below. Eastward was the azure blanket of the Eastern Ocean which was the home to the Ocean and Abyssal Domains. As the colourful descendant of Kushanku continued to take in the amazing view of the Land Domain far below, Caesium, Orchid, Heather and Griffin came in.
"It's hard to believe that all the way down there that's our home," said the first one, the Chroma Cat.
"We can VERY clearly see the Eastern Ocean over there," said the second, the Golden-Egg Goose. The third and fourth, the Gold-Fleeced Ewe and Occamy also gazed at the azure seascape of the Eastern Ocean in the eastern distance.
"You know, when I was an Occaling (baby Occamy)," Griffin said, "My grandfather always told me and my siblings stories of a pure white sea in the EXTREME, EXTREME East often described as the gateway to the Country of the Golden Lion."
"That's a common legend we Azure Dragons often share in our home kingdom, the Kingdom of the Azure Dragons in the Cardinal Domain," said Moana not too far away, "We often describe a sea of pure white spread out below the edge of our kingdom area."
"Is Aslan's Country accessible from the Cardinal Domain then?" asked Orchid.
"You can get to Aslan's Country from any of the four Cardinal Kingdoms," said Moana, "that is, from the lands of the Eastern Azure Dragons, the Western White Tigers, the Northern Black Tortoises and the Southern Vermillion Birds but you have to go through a VERY difficult obstacle course we call a Pilgrimage Path to get to the Country of the Lion King. Along the way there are incredibly dangerous and frightening obstacles you have to deal with if you want to claim the prize. Those obstacles are a test of courage and your trust in Aslan and it is clear that the Lion King has purposely put them there for those purposes."
"Sounds interesting," said Caesium.
"And unnerving," put in Orchid. As the Chroma Cat and the Golden-Egg Goose said these, Quaoar talked on his DV communicator to Xenon for he had rung nearby. Immediately, Caesium, Orchid, Heather, Griffin, Naihanchi and Moana turned to the Kitsumiho but he flung up a paw in a nonverbal gesture not to interrupt, so they obeyed. The five then began to listen to Quaoar as he continued to talk with Xenon.
"I would like you to head to a city called Nuvem," said the blue Cloud-Man and last surviving member of the family of the rightful monarch to the throne of Asgard Sky City, King Lightning-Bolt, "It's a city like Asgard Sky City but smaller. Yong Bao and Ombro's spy force groups have brought back reports of suspicious activity occurring there and I would like you lot to investigate it more thoroughly. If you find anything, contact Yong Bao back in Nuvula right away."
"Okay, we will," said Quaoar, "I reckon one of Cielo and his family's servants told you about how one of the Arcobalenopods has been caught when he talked to you through that crystalline screen."
"Yes, Flutter, one of the Martlet servants, explained that," said Xenon, "It was the Blue one according to Momotaro and his three friends, wasn't it?"
Nearby, Momotaro, Kiji, Inu and Saru who kept their Arrow-Tongue Stingray calm for the Sky Cart journey, turned and gazed at Quaoar as he continued to talk to Xenon.
"It's UTTERLY alarming to say the least," Xenon continued on the other end of the DV communicator, "When Flutter told me that, I almost fainted and one of my carers, a young Rainbow Serpent I have named Dilkara almost spat a sun apple (glowing orange apples that grew in the Sky Domain, it was one of the common Sky Domain fruits) he had been carrying to me at my head in UTMOST horror and disbelief. He didn't, thankfully but it was understandable that he would react like that."
Momotaro exchanged surprised looks with his three Animal friends and also Caesium, Naihanchi, Griffin, Orchid and Heather. Xenon had a young Rainbow Serpent helping to care for him in his hiding place? Then Ozone and Glitterwing remembered.
"The Rainbow Serpent species have a close connection to the Arcobalenopods, I've heard," said the former, the Cloud-Man, in a low voice to avoid interrupting Quaoar's conversation with Xenon, "They may have the special job of being guardians of areas like the Narnian Sun but they also have important ties with the seven Arcobalenopods."
"But that aside, what have Yong Bao and Ombro's spies brought back from Nuvem?" asked Quaoar.
"The whole city is in lockdown," said Xenon, "Why, we're not quite sure but according to some of the spies' reports, Nuvem has been told that an imminent swarm of Sky Arachnoids is about to come upon them like last time in the 1020s, the Great Sky Arachnoid Plague."
"The Great Sky Arachnoid Plague?" asked Quaoar.
"It's an infamous event involving an outbreak of a dangerous Sky Domain species of creepy crawly called the Sky Arachnoid," Momotaro explained and with that, Saru searched his satchel and pulled out a picture of the creature. The creature had a segmented body and joined legs and looked somewhat like a scorpion but it had wings and its stinging tail was like a Land Domain earwig's with two stingers as opposed to one as on a true scorpion. Its 'shell' was pure white and its two wings resembled the wings of a dragonfly of the Land Domain and it appeared to possess mouthparts similar to a mosquito's.
"The Sky Arachnoid is one of the most dangerous insectoids of the Sky Domain fauna," explained Saru, "Not only is the venom in this blood-sucking insectoid's stingers dangerous but it is also a carrier of certain diseases, some of them deadly and it spreads those diseases through the sucking of the blood of various individuals. One such is a disease that can spread from one creature to the next via coughs and sneezes. The Great Sky Arachnoid Plague not only involved the smothering of a number of towns and cities by these mighty swarms of Sky Arachnoids, including Asgard Sky City, but it also involved the outbreak of this disease."
"Symptoms included violent coughing and sneezing," added Kiji, "purple blotches on the skin, severe weakness and tiredness, high fevers and VERY smelly feet, if you had feet."
"Oh, I remember now," said Quaoar, "Yes, the afflicted cities and town in the Sky Domain had to lock themselves down to avoid spreading that Sky Arachnoid-borne disease to other places didn't they? How could I have not remembered that? I'm a Nine-Tailed Fox and I'm SUPPOSED to have an excellent memory," he then uttered a slight sheepish titter. However, despite being powerful and extremely intelligent, even Nine-Tailed Foxes can have their moments of forgetfulness. Then a frown formed on Quaoar's face as he continued to talk to Xenon through the DV communicator, "But why would anyone have Nuvem lock themselves down based on that infamous 1020s' Great Sky Arachnoid Plague? Have any of the spy groups reported of any of those insectoids anywhere in Nuvem?"
"No, not at all," said Xenon, "Which is very unusual indeed and abnormal. Anyway, I'll let you go until you arrive in Nuvem. Once you get there, call me and I'll give you further instructions. Bye for now."
Quaoar replied the same reply and both sides hung up their DV communicators. The Kitsumiho then eyed Momotaro and his three friends, a look of suspicion glinting in his eyes.
"The citizens of Nuvem locking down their city based on that infamous plague," said he, "There HAS to be a reason underlying it."
"We don't know if it is tied with Kurama's cult in Asgard Sky City or if it's something else," said Momotaro.
"But there is only one way to find out," said Kiji with Saru and Inu nodding in agreement. Then Naihanchi asked Saru for the picture of the Sky Arachnoid so that she could have a look at it and the Macaque gave the picture of it to her. As she began to take in the Arachnoid and what it looked like, Orchid, Heather, Griffin and Caesium returned to waiting until they arrived at Nuvem.
A little while later, Ozone and Glitterwing came to Quaoar as he gazed out into the skyscape and the Land Domain stretched far below as the Sky Cart continued its journey. Behind the three, Momotaro spoke to Obi Wan back at Nuvola via another DV communicator, the lead Grey Man talking to the Peach Elf about reports of metallic C-shaped containers coming in from the Narnian Moon.
"I have told the Grand Councilman to NOT accept those flasks," the three heard Obi mention via the phone-like device, "as they contain a VERY dangerous drink made from a STRICTLY forbidden fruit..."
"It's a good thing you did, Obi Wan," said Momotaro, "What's being sold here are these Wish Potions..."
Quaoar, Ozone and Glitterwing flashed a worried look at the Peach Elf as he continued to converse with the Grey Man. Nearby, Bentley snapped out of his nap and shot the Peach Elf an alarmed look.
"These Wish Potions have spread to Obi Wan's home Domain now!?" Ozone said worriedly.
"The Grand Councilman of the Narnian Moon who is an ancient Grey Moon Man who rules over the ENTIRE Domain of the Narnian Moon, is extremely wise, Ozone," said Quaoar, "He is excellent at discerning what enters the Narnian Moon Domain is good or not. He has that area is covered."
Glitterwing and Ozone exhaled before moving on to the next subject.
"The Golden Glitter Gas which we now know originates from the Golden Stingerfan has the ability to put you through a sort of waking dream," explained Glitterwing, "often accompanied by feelings of utmost euphoria as we have told you before. However, euphoria as we have also told you is not the only feeling you might feel when inhaling a puff of that golden glitter stuff."
"You may experience other extreme feelings," said Ozone, "and often, those feelings may be in the negative. The Golden Glitter Gas has different effects on different individuals at different times. Sometimes it's a euphoric high dream... or a waking nightmare of UTTERLY terrifying proportions."
"Waking nightmare..." said Quaoar, "Kind of like another type of gas, the Red Sleeping Gas Potion but of course you don't fall asleep when under the influence of the Golden Glitter Gas, do you?"
"Sometimes you do," said Glitterwing, "But regardless of the various effects of this Glitter Gas, that stuff is UTTERLY insidious and unfortunately, Kurama has used that gas as a frequent tool for his worship services to the false Aslan he has created and has forced us to follow without question or objection. He often uses it to send the atmosphere of the worship service into an emotional frenzy but for some of us; it had been UTTERLY traumatic, especially for the children."
"Absolutely," said Ozone. Quaoar shot the Cherub woman and the Cloud-Man an UTTERLY incredulous glare.
"You're KIDDING me, you two," he nearly snapped. Bentley also jolted awake upon hearing this as did Kiji the Pheasant who was close by. Momotaro continued talking to Obi Wan back in Nuvola through his DV communicator and was too engrossed in the conversation with him to hear this. Ozone and Glitterwing shook their heads to Quaoar's retort to show that they weren't.
"That can have some serious implications for the youngsters," said Bentley in a low voice to avoid it becoming thunderous. A shaking Sky Cart from the Giant's booming voice would NOT be something his allies would like. Then the latter, the Cloud-Man, began to break down and tremble.
"Many of the kids including my son and daughter and at times Glitterwing's daughters and nephew are often traumatised by the Golden Glitter Gas," Ozone spoke in an edgy voice, his pupil-less black eyes sending rivulets of tears streaming down his cheeks. Glitterwing also began to weep as Ozone continued, "After one use of that stuff during one worship service, my son and daughter struggled to sleep for several nights afterward."
"While my nephew suffered the sort of symptoms you'd get after a close brush with death," Glitterwing added, her cheeks streaked with tears, "Honestly, you do NOT wanna see the state he had been after one such worship service. He told me and my sister Sparkle, his mother, as well as his uncle and my husband Swift and father Zephyr-Gus that when the Golden Glitter Gas flooded the air, he thought he saw Kurama morph into some sort of walking Nine-Tailed Fox skeletal figure (we sat at the front of the congregation during that service), alongside other disturbing hallucinations that I won't describe. Then after that service was over, he was HONESTLY violently trembling, his skin as white as our feathered wings and my and his mother's hair, a cold sweat pouring from his brow and his blood felt like it was boiling under his skin... and the look on his face... that LOOK of... PURE TERROR..." then the Cherub's emotions overwhelmed her and she began to weep and sob. Kiji shot the Cherub and Ozone an alarmed look.
"Glitterwing, Ozone, THAT is VERY serious," the Common Pheasant said. Quaoar then formed a frown.
"Ozone and Glitterwing's kids and the latter's nephew will NOT be the only ones to have suffered such AWFUL, AWFUL implications from that insidious stuff," the Kitsumiho said, "What Kurama is putting those poor children he has trapped in his cult through with that Glitter Gas is UTTERLY grievous to Aslan," he then looked on seriously, "Honestly, Aslan has said that if ANYONE, ANYONE at ALL EVER puts young kids through such stuff as THAT or cause them to sin, it would be better for them to be tied or chained to a heavy rock or equivalent and thrown into the depths of the Eastern Ocean. Based on this, Aslan will not, repeat: NOT... tolerate young Talking Beasts and Magical Creatures and also the young of extra-Narnian creatures like humans being treated that way. He loves children very much and absolutely ABHORS ANY treatment of them like that."
"Indeed," said Kiji angrily as Ozone and Glitterwing continued to weep, some of the others including Naihanchi, Moana and Spock the Pegasus, who had seen them upset, comforting them, "And didn't the Lion King appoint four HUMAN CHILDREN to be Kings and Queens of Narnia at the very beginning of the Golden Age centuries ago?"
"Yes," said Quaoar as Ozone managed to regain some composure after an episode of intensive weeping. Glitterwing, however, had to go to one side and Naihanchi took her there.
"Were the parents given the option to take their children out of those services when the Golden Glitter Gas was deployed?" asked Bentley.
"No but when some parents tried to do that they were punished," said Ozone in an edgy voice, his cheeks streaked with tear stains, "One family of Great Blue Windrunners attempted to get their chicks out of one service when that stuff was deployed to avoid their chicks inhaling that stuff but they were caught by one of Kurama's higher-ranking underlings and imprisoned."
"That's terrible," said Bentley. Then Quaoar formed a serious look on his face.
"Well, when we find that source of that evil Kitsune's Golden Glitter Gas, the Golden Stingerfan, we're gonna destroy it," said he. He then reached into his tails and pulled out a phaser, "But we will not be hacking the Stingerfans to shreds with blades like swords and daggers. We will be burning them down."
"Yes, Golden Stingerfans will release their defence mechanism if you slash them with any sort of blade," said Kiji.
"Can I crush them underfoot?" asked Bentley.
"No, they need to be burned, Bentley," said Inu as he came in with Saru, "If you crushed them with your enormous feet, they would belch out HUGE chugs of Golden Glitter Gas and that can be bad for your smaller teammates."
Bentley then immediately abandoned the idea of using his feet to kill the Golden Stingerfans when they found them. Then Ozone went on, this time angrily, "Honestly, the Golden Glitter Gas has sent our children on the WORST nightmares they have EVER had... FAR worse than ANY nightmare they have had during sleeping. That stuff Kurama uses in those worship service isn't the REAL breath of the REAL Aslan. It's just a tool to emotionally manipulate the atmosphere and make going back to the worship service VERY addictive."
The others nodded in agreement to this.
Later
The city of Nuvem melted into view in the distance from Quaoar and company's Sky Cart and like all Sky Domain cities and other places it floated on a solid cloud like a Sky island. Nuvem City was a definitive city like Asgard Sky City but it was smaller. There were buildings constructed from rare metals which gave them what we humans would describe as futuristic by our standards if we saw them but there were fewer of these in Nuvem than in Asgard. Most of the buildings were made from far more basic and drabber materials. As the group continued to approach Nuvem, Momotaro called everyone's attention.
"Here we are everyone," the Peach Elf called, "Nuvem City."
The others came and gazed at the city they were approaching through the windows and were awash with amazement at how big it was.
"It's a lot bigger than I thought," said Naihanchi.
"We thought it would be smaller than that," said Orchid.
"Oh, no, Nuvem is quite a big city," said Glitterwing, she and Ozone having recovered from the flood of emotions over Kurama's use of the Golden Glitter Gas, "It's like Asgard Sky City in many ways but it has fewer metallic buildings."
"And it also lacks a pad to the Bifrost Transporter," added Ozone.
"So it's like a smaller version of Asgard?" asked Morla. Ozone nodded. Then Quaoar reached into his tails and pulled out his DV communicator.
"Right, everyone," said he, "Gather your things and prepare to disembark once we arrive at the station to Nuvem. I'm gonna call Xenon and tell him we are approaching the destination he has directed us to go."
And with that, the Kitsumiho went away while everyone else went to gather their things. As they did that, Momotaro, Inu, Kiji and Saru woke their Arrow-Tongue steed, Stingray, from his slumber and commanded him to prepare to leave the Sky Cart. Orchid the Golden-Egg Goose and her friend Heather the Gold-Fleeced Ewe looked on as they checked their medical kits, the latter checking her supply of fire-flower cordial.
"I think that Arrow-Tongue steed of yours will be very useful for our quest," said the former, the Goose, "After all, he's largely immune to most elemental attacks and magical blasts, isn't he?"
"Most elemental and magical attacks," said Momotaro, "Except a few particularly powerful blasts like the foxfire from a Nine-Tailed Magical Fox."
"So that would mean that if Quaoar were to blast your Arrow-Tongue with his foxfire, he'd kill him instantly," said Heather. Orchid shot the Ewe a glare at such a statement but Momotaro nodded to this to confirm that it would be true.
"Even though Quaoar is half Kitsune, half Kumiho," said the Peach Elf, "His foxfire's deadly power is no different from pure blooded Kitsune and Kimuho. If he were half-Talking Fox then his foxfire power would be different."
"Magical Fox and ordinary Talking Fox hybrids cannot reach the Nine-Tailed stage anyway," said Orchid, "The furthest they can reach is half that age at four or maybe even five tails."
"Depends on the fraction of Magical Fox blood in the crossbreed's veins," said Kiji as Stingray stood up and hissed at the air with his deadly spearheaded tongue, "For example if a Fox is one-quarter Magical Fox, he will only reach one quarter of a full-blooded Magical Fox's tail number development of only two tails and no further. Plus their powers such as foxfire and telekinesis would be weaker."
"Quaoar wouldn't obviously kill your Arrow-Tongue with his foxfire because he knows he is an important asset to your team, Momotaro," said Heather.
"Yes, but Kurama certainly would," said Momotaro darkly, "As he is a merciless and dangerous Talking Beast and it's even worse since he, like Quaoar, is in his final and maximum Nine-Tailed stage."
Orchid and Heather nodded in agreement to this. Nearby, Quaoar spoke to Xenon through his DV communicator.
"We're about to arrive at the station at Nuvem, Xenon," the Kitsumiho said, "Once we disembark, we're gonna begin our investigation and perhaps send some scouts to survey the city for any signs of these Sky Arachnoids to prove for sure that Yong Bao and Ombro's spy forces' reports of seeing NO trace of them is true."
"Okay, you do that and also keep your eyes peeled for anything out of place or suspicious," said Xenon, "Additionally, if you do find anything of the sort, report to me and also to Yong Bao and Ombro back in Nuvola."
"Okay, will do," said Quaoar and with that, both the talkers hung up and Quaoar returned the device to his tails' fur. After this, he gathered his equipment including his GC sword and his satchel and prepared to leave the Sky Cart as it continued to approach Nuvem.
Quaoar and his team had arrived in Nuvem and had disembarked the Sky Cart and had left the station. However, as they entered the city of Nuvem, they were greeted with an eerie silence. Morla the Black Tortoise examined the streets and was surprised to see that they, even the major ones, were deserted and empty of inhabitants.
"Looks like Nuvem has turned into a ghost city and yet the inhabitants are still present," said the Black Tortoise, "Xenon wasn't kidding about this place locking itself down completely."
Near Morla, Aang, Moana, Adamans and Iridia the Fenghuang, Thunderbolt the Raiju, Caesium the Chroma Cat and Griffin the Occamy had their swords, spears and bows and arrows poised in case any suspicious movement occurred. Spock walked slowly past with Momotaro, Kiji, Inu and Saru who rode on their Arrow-Tongue steed Stingray's back, their weapons (Momotaro with his shield, Kiji with his katana-like sword, Inu with his metal bone and Saru with his war hammer and boomerang, all made from Urulite) also poised. Red the Scarlet Macaw, Orchid, Heather, Weywot the Insect Rabbit-Dog, Glitterwing, Ozone and Bentley also came in and carefully examined Nuvem for any sign of life. At the front of the group, Naihanchi and Quaoar had their weapons up, the latter with his GC sword while Bentley had his club handy while.
"Is Nuvem usually busy?" asked the Giant.
"It usually is," said Momotaro on Stingray's back, his shield up, "But its activities have ceased a few months ago."
"It inhabitants have entered lockdown," said Kiji.
"It's awfully quiet," said Weywot as he had his phaser poised, Orchid and Heather creeping alongside him carefully.
"The windows of the buildings have been boarded up and barricaded, as are the doors and other entrances," said Orchid. Immediately the others turned and saw that Orchid was right. The windows of the buildings nearest to them were indeed boarded up and the doors were utterly bolted. Then Quaoar carefully lead his group toward the city. Everyone kept their weapons up in case anything or anyone suspicious jumped out at them. They were like a band of policemen in our world armed with guns carefully looking around for a suspect in a city and they were protectively pointing their guns in various directions. Then as soon as they saw that the coast was definitely clear, Quaoar began to give some of the group members instructions.
"Okay, I want those that can fly take to the air and examine Nuvem from top to bottom for any of those Sky Arachnoids," the Kitsumiho commanded, "And I want Bentley due to his height to join them."
"Okay, Quaoar," said Naihanchi and with that, she got together those that could fly, such as Glitterwing, Spock, Red and Kiji and as soon as the group was formed along with Bentley, they were ready to go.
"We will be a good while," Naihanchi said, "Though Nuvem is not as big as Asgard Sky City; it is still quite large. We will be back as soon as we can or if we find any of those insectoids," she then turned to Bentley and added, "And Bentley, make sure that you don't slam your feet down too hard or your thunderous steps may frighten the citizens barricaded in their homes all the more."
"Okay," said Bentley.
"Alright, you flyers and Bentley be off," said Quaoar, "And make sure that you report any of your findings, even small and insignificant ones, to Yong Bao and Ombro via the communicators the former and his group had given us before our departure."
Naihanchi and her team nodded and with that, the flyers with wings spread their wings and took off while Naihanchi twisted her tails and took to the air. Bentley followed behind the flyers, being careful not to plant his feet with every step to hard onto the ground. The rest of the group continued their advancement into Nuvem, their weapons still poised.
A little later, Quaoar's team was deeper in the city. Aang peered through a gap of one of the boards sealing off the window of a house and saw a family of giant Bats of the Ahool species clutched to a pole on the ceiling by their feet. It appeared to be a family for there were some adult Ahool with their wings wrapped around some younger ones. However, several more Ahool continued the usual housekeeping activities like cleaning. Aang then withdrew from the window and continued following the others.
"I just had a peer into one of the houses," said the White Tiger, "And some of the inhabitants are definitely afraid."
"Bad idea to do that, Aang," said Momotaro as he rode by on Stingray with Inu and Saru, "You could seriously spook them. Remember, something or rather someone has prompted the citizens here to barricade themselves up in these buildings by striking fear into them using some threat of a swarm of Sky Arachnoids."
Aang exhaled rather guiltily and promised that he would never peer into the buildings again before resuming his task. The group continued to do this until finally, Thunderbolt stumbled upon a sheet of paper. Immediately, the Raiju picked up the paper to examine it more carefully.
"Hey, guys, look," he called to the others, "This appears to be a warning poster for the Sky Arachnoid."
Quaoar took the picture and examined it with Momotaro peering at it from his Arrow-Tongue steed's back with Inu and Saru. The picture was the very same picture Kiji showed Quaoar back on the Sky Cart.
"Yes, that's the deadly insectoid," said the Peach Elf with confirmation.
"But we don't see any sign of those insectoids around here," said Ozone who was knelt for he was so tall, his black eyes examining the surrounding buildings and streets dotted with the occasional Sky Domain tree or shrub, "Hopefully Naihanchi's team will cover the rest of the city for any sign of them in those areas..."
"During the Great Sky Arachnoid Plague of the 1020s as we have stated before," said Momotaro, "The cities and towns that were afflicted with the outbreak of the diseases carried by the insectoid had self-isolated themselves to contain those deadly diseases. Nuvem was one of them and it had been the worst city hit."
"Over a third of the city's population perished from the diseases here, especially by the one spread via coughs and sneezes," added Inu.
"It wasn't until the end of the 1020s that the Sky Arachnoid swarms and thus the diseases they spread were gotten under control," said Saru, "One method was the introduction of the natural predator of the Sky Arachnoid called the Purple Tetrapteron which are small dragon-like creatures with four wings and two legs."
Then Quaoar felt a hunch come over him.
"I wonder if someone could have taken advantage of that tragic event in this city's history to spook the inhabitants into locking themselves up for some possible purpose," said the Kitsumiho, "I know it's only a theory and it lacks flesh but it seems to make sense."
"If that is the case," said Momotaro, "Then it would be an UTTERLY heinous thing to do, especially if it involves such a tragic event that cost a city so much of its population."
"Let's continue our investigations here until we find something," said Quaoar and with that, he and his team continued that.
An hour passed and Quaoar and company continued investigating more of the city's streets until they eventually came across a beautiful golden building encrusted with jewels with its windows painted with various important historical figures such as on the Land Domain.
"Look, Nuvem's gathering house," said Ozone who recognised the building, "That's called the Gathering House of Nuvem and it serves the same function as the Gathering House does back in my city of Asgard."
"It also looks barricaded but its windows aren't boarded up," said Moana.
"Then let's try and enter that house and see if we can find anyone inside," said Quaoar, "Maybe they'll have some proper answers and the missing pieces to Yong Bao and Ombro's puzzle as to why Nuvem is in lockdown."
The group then went over to the Gathering House. As soon as they were on the building's premises, Weywot went over to the main entrance and tried to open the door. However, it wouldn't budge.
"It's locked like the other buildings," the blue Insect Rabbit-Dog grunted as he pulled on the door in an attempt to open it. Eventually he gave up.
"When was the last time the Nuvem citizens used this building to worship Aslan?" asked Moana.
"When has the building itself had any maintenance last?" asked Morla when he noticed some cracks ascending one of the stone walls of the house as well as unsightly Sky Domain weeds growing in the garden and grassland around the building. Quaoar gazed rather indignantly at the disrepair setting into the Gathering House.
"This is supposed to be a sacred place where the citizens gather to worship the Great Lion and to hear his message preached," the Kitsumiho spoke, "And like all buildings, maintenance is important, especially for worship areas such as this."
"I doubt the Nuvem citizens have used this building for months," said Ozone, "Much less tend to its upkeep. After all, they are afraid of some Sky Arachnoid swarm about to come upon the city."
"Well, hopefully, Naihanchi's team will have found something," said Quaoar. He then turned to Heather the Gold-Fleeced Ewe, "Can you find an alternative entrance into the building, Heather?"
The Sheep who had climbed onto the window ledge of one of the larger circular windows, tested its lock when suddenly, the colourful pane which was painted with a picture of the broken Stone Table rotated until the pane was at right angles to its rim. Its movement almost made Heather fall into the building but she regained her balance and prevented from doing so. The others came in as the Gold-Fleeced Ewe examined the now-open window.
"I think the answer to that question is yes, Quaoar," said she, "I'm gonna go inside and see if I can open the main entrance doors from within."
And with that, Heather climbed through the open window and entered the building. Moana followed, her paws clutching a dagger to serve as backup in case Heather could not manually open the doors. Quaoar, Morla, Weywot, Aang, Thunderbolt, Caesium, Ozone and Momotaro, Inu and Saru on Stingray came in as the pair hurried to the entrance doors. Once they saw that the Azure Dragoness and the Ewe were there, they immediately rushed for those doors. Heather began to struggle with the locks holding the doors shut but they wouldn't budge either. Eventually, she turned to Moana.
"These doors will need repairing but do you think you can slash these doors open with your dagger, Moana?" Heather said. Moana did so and hacked the blade of her dagger through the gap between the doors which were made from the wood of Sky Domain trees. After a few tries, the Azure Dragoness managed to destroy the locks holding the doors shut. This done, Moana and Heather opened the doors and allowed the others to enter. Once they were in the building, they entered investigation mode once again and began to search the place. Momotaro, Inu and Saru checked the seating area on Stingray's back with Momotaro commanding Stingray to sniff out for any suspicious scents. Like snakes and some other reptiles, Arrow-Tongues could use their long tongues to collect scent molecules in the air and take them back into their mouths for processing. This was how Arrow-Tongues tracked their prey along with their ability to see in lights out of range of the human eye (called infrared by us). While Momotaro and his group minus Kiji investigated the seating area, Quaoar checked the pulpit area with Caesium and Thunderbolt.
"Can't see anything out of the ordinary," said the latter, the Raiju.
"This place hasn't been used in months according to Ozone due to Nuvem being in a state of lockdown," Caesium said. He then began to call for anyone in the House, "Hello, is there anyone in here?"
In another corner, Moana, Heather and Morla checked a decorative table and also gazed up at the aerial seating area designed for creatures that flew or levitated. Ozone actually checked these areas for he was very tall. The Cloud-Man gazed disappointed at how much disrepair the place was.
"It's clear that the Sky Arachnoid fright has certainly hit this city real good," commented the Cloud-Man.
"Then something's not quite right," said Quaoar with suspicion as he checked another wall which was also cracked after checking the pulpit area.
"What do you mean?" asked Caesium. As Quaoar entered into thought, Thunderbolt began to examine the floor until his Wolf-Cat's eyes raked over something. Immediately, the Electric Wolf-Cat returned his gaze to what he had found and began to examine it. He then picked it up to look at it properly.
"Hey, Quaoar, Caesium, come here," he said. The Kitsumiho and the Chroma Cat came over to the Raiju as he showed them what he had found, some type of tendril coloured a vivid shade of yellow almost like some of Quaoar's ivory-coloured pelt which he got from his Kitsune mother, Leia.
"It looks like some kind of thin root or vine," said Caesium, "Like from a plant not of the Land Domain that is yellow."
Quaoar took the tendril and began to examine it closely for himself. While Quaoar, Caesium and Thunderbolt examined the bright yellow tendril, Moana came by, her blue Reptilian eyes scanning the seating area for Flying and Levitating Creatures such as Flying Birds in the building for anything out of place and her front paws clutching her dagger when suddenly, her eyes detected movement in their periphery. Immediately, the Azure Dragoness turned and eyed the source and spotted a tall creature. Its body was coloured yellow and its top was decorated with a glinting cap. Yellow tendrils snaked from the creature's body and emanated like vines in a number of directions. Immediately, the Azure Dragoness sprung into action and brandished her dagger.
"A-HAAA!" cried the Cardinal Reptile and with that, she launched herself at the creature. Her cry seized the attention of the others and they looked her way.
"What have you found, Moana?" asked Weywot. Quaoar gazed at what had ignited Moana into action but the moment he identified and recognised the yellow creature with the glinting cap, alarm tore through him.
"Moana, STAY YOUR DAGGER NOOOW!" the Kitsumiho barked at the top of his lungs, "THAT'S A..."
Too late; the blade of Moana's dagger cleaved through the glinting cap of the creature and hacked off a piece of it. A golden leaf then drifted onto the floor and landed near Caesium and Thunderbolt.
"Is that..." began the former but then cries from Quaoar bolted them into action.
"EVACUATE THE GATHERING HOUSE!" the Kitsumiho screamed, "EVERYONE EVACUATE THE GATHERING HOUSE NOW!"
Heather turned and was about to see why but a blue clawed hand appeared and seized her by the arm. Weywot had grabbed her and was now dragging her to the door and he had good reason to do this. From the glinting capped yellow creature a HUGE billow of smoke spewed into the air but this wasn't smoke from a fire; that was coloured grey or black. This was instead golden and spangled with golden stars and it was pouring from the wounded yellow creature into the air like a geyser. Moana, who was closest to it, was smothered by the golden smoke and was sent into a stunned stumble. Quaoar yelled at Caesium and Thunderbolt to retreat for the door as a puff of concentrated golden smoke blew their way. The Raiju and the Chroma Cat obeyed and kept their heads low to prevent inhaling the smoke but Quaoar, being late to react, ended up having some of it enter his mouth and nostrils to his UTMOST alarm.