Quest for Life and Death

[Monkey Monk]

Once he was sure that his friend was safe, Hawk let loose a sigh. He nodded in agreeance to Ammolite's words before again letting his gaze flit up to the far off peak. There was a feeling inside his mind, knawing away at his thoughts. Finally he gave in to it and began to walk off in the direction of the mountain. "Istariel is in that mountain somewhere. I can feel it. We have to go and save her! I won't loose her....I can't loose her..." His voice was somber as he spoke. Downward hid his gaze drop as he kept walking.

Phoebus looked at Azarak with a curious glance. He seemed perplexed by what the lizard said. After a moment he let his voice ring out in just a whisper. "Pigheaded? How so? Do we not set aside out own pains to go and aid a friend in need? Is that not the right thing to do my friend? Such actions at selfless I do believe..." There was a pause as he inched closer to the other. When he spoke, his voice was low enough for only Azarak to hear. "Why is it you are afraid? What is it you keep hidden still?"

Yoshika watched her brother walk off silently. She was silent this whole time, apparently not being one for many words. After a moment, she straightened herself and trotted quickly to catch up with her sibling. Fearlessly she looked ahead to the far off mountain. If that was where they had to go, than so be it.

~

A maniacle cackle rang out from the mascu as he returned to what he was doing. Her pain seemed to please him and fuel the fires of his coldness. "It's so cruel don't you think? The captured princess killing her beloved mate and rescuer. Can you imagine his face as you deal the final blow to him? After all, he doesn't love you. You know it. Don't you want to make him suffer for using you?" Slowly he turned back to face her, trying to look into her eyes. "Don't you want to kill him? Imagine his thick, coppery blood pouring from his neck and coating his golden fur. The same blood dripping from your muzzle. You know you hate him. You know you desire to destroy him."

[Felypsa]

Ammolite looked at Hawk in relief and gratitude, her eyes glittering purple once more. “To the mountain, then,” she said softly. The pain in her ear was all but forgotten. With Azarak and Phoebus unnoticeable burdens on her back, she set forth, making sure she was always abreast of Hawk. After a moment she turned and smiled at Yoshika, and seemed to be a little abashed. “I’m sorry to ruin your joyful reunion,” she said, “I know you’d rather enjoy this time with your brother alone. Alas, this crisis has pushed out all pleasure of life currently. Hopefully, when we resolve it, there will be more time. I’d like to get to know you myself.”

Azarak inclined his head at the hawk, narrowing his eyes ever so slightly. “You take my words too seriously, guardian,” he replied, loud enough for anyone to overhear. When Phoebus made his inquiries, more quietly, Azarak said nothing for a moment. Then he responded, keeping his voice to low for eavesdroppers to glean on. “If you must know, my feathered friend, I am afraid of failure.” The lizard did not elaborate.

*

Istariel shuddered, and tried to block her ears to prevent the poisoned honey of her captor’s words from seeping into her mind. It did not work; she still heard every word he spoke loud and clear. The images and emotions he conjured up made her sick, but they had a strange kind of allure…an allure that comes only from masochism.

Her kidnapper was a liar, in more than one way. He promised escape from sorrow and grief, but continued to smear it over her like rubbing salt on her wounds. She repeated over and over to herself, Of course Hawk loves me. He loves me so much, we were made for one another and we both know it, I love him, he loves me, it is as simple as that, there are no complexities or subtleties, we are in love. I will not kill him. By killing him I kill myself. Our lives are united, tied, bound, to one another; so are our deaths. If he dies, I die. If I die, he dies. We are one. We are one. Only distance separates us, but our souls and minds and hearts are united…

Istariel suddenly retched. True, the air was hot and foul, and she was full of wretchedness, and injured by the twin shocks she’d received, but, oddly enough, none of these were the reason why she felt so nauseous. In thinking about her deep and passionate love for Hawk, and his for her, some spoken words of the past inexplicably entered her mind. Her mother, Queen Valkyrie, relating the misery of something called “morning sickness.”

The realization hit Istariel full force. Tears welled up in her eyes at the same time as she vomited again. Tears of joy, tears of pain. He truly does love me…this is proof…

[Monkey Monk]

The bird looked at Azarak for a moment. He kept his voice low, not wanting anyone to overhear them. "Failure? We are all afraid of failure my tasty comrade. And I mean that in general. Everyone fears failing in their endeavors. Some times the fear is larger than others. Do you not fear whether you will have time to dodge an enemies blow and live? Do you not fear whether you will make it to a secluded spot to relieve your bladder before it let's itself loose? Every situation has fear Azarak. Fear is an everyday thing. Now courage. That is something rare." What was this? What Phoebus acually speaking useful philosophy?! Maybe he was ill...

Yoshika smiled when Ammolite spoke. Her lavender eyes were aglint as she quickly dismissed the apologies given forth. "There is no need to apologize...Ammolite is it? I have been away from my sibling for years, the time it will take to rescue your friend will be nothing compared to that. I just hope that my baby bro hasn't given you trouble." She smiled and looked over to Hawk, but noticed that he was lost in his toughts. With a sigh Yoshika returned to speaking with Ammolite. "From what I remember, he was always like that. He looses himself in his thoughts so easily. I remember how we'd play hide and seek. He would be counting and then look at a bug and ponder how it walked with six legs. Hawk is a weird one."

Indeed Hawk was lost in his thoughts. Yet it was more like him trying to force his mind to break free and try to find Istariel. It was times like these that he wished he could perform acts of telepathy. He wished dearly he could have some contact with his mate. When he had departed from the underground to check on the others, the thought of being from her for just a few moments had torn him up inside. Now he could not help but think that he was on the verge of loosing her. His eyes were watery as his mind screamed out. Istariel...I can't loose you...I won't loose you...hang in there...I'm coming for you. Soon we'll be back underground, cuddling together. Soon I will be able to wrap you in my wing and hold you close. Just hang in there my love....

~

The captor glared at Istariel as she began retching. Honestly he did not know what he problem was. He though that the smell of sulphar and decay was a nice mix. Slowly he returned to letting his eyes run over the ancient tablets he had set out. The stones were sprawled in runes of an old language. He let loose a snarl as he was obviously having trouble finding his goal. "Where is it?! Maybe I should just give up...No, the master will not like that! This is wrong though. She doesn't deserve this. I think- I am not meant to think! I do what the master commands! This is still wrong. She is ino- ARG!" His self argument came to an abrupt end as he collapsed to the floor in a writhing pile of tan fur. It was as if he had run into the dome that contained the femme. After a moment he ceased his painful wriggling and slowly rose up. He had returned to the way he had been. Silently he returned to reading as if nothing had happened.

[Felypsa]

Azarak listened as the hawk’s philosophy and knew the wisdom in his words. He sighed and answered, keeping his voice just as quiet. “I know and understand your point, Phoebus. I suppose my common fear of failure is triggered by a more specific cause. I fear I will not be able to help save Istariel; I fear she will not be able to be saved. Even if she is saved, it will be at a great sacrifice.” His ruby red eyes turned sorrowful as he looked at Phoebus. “We will not return the same way we arrive.” The lizard was not speaking of geographical direction.

Ammolite maintained her smile as Yoshika spoke, deciding that she liked Hawk’s sister. “Trouble? Oh, no. Hawk has helped me beyond my wildest dreams…as he told you, he helped me find my long-last father and he assisted in saving me from the clutches of that despicable Spirit World character. If anything, I’m the one who’s given him trouble.” She laughed lightly at Yoshika’s recollections of their puphood. “He certainly is thoughtful. But I have gotten used to it. I am glad…” She paused, then smiled and resumed her thought. “I am glad he did not remain dead.” Though curiously phrased, it was true.

*

By the time Istariel’s own sufferings had ceased, she was able to watch the predicament of her captor through watery eyes. She did not understand what was wrong with him, just that he seemed to be conflicted, fighting against something stronger than he.

She was still amazed by her own revelation. It appeared, though, that her kidnapper seemed to neither understand nor care. She shivered at the thought of how he would react to the news. She would guard the secret with her life, and guard the promise it held. The consequences otherwise would be too terrible to imagine.

She decided it was best to distract her captor from his work. She spoke to him, despite how she loathed his voice. “You seem to be conflicted,” she observed quietly. “I take it your master is not easygoing on his subjects.” Perhaps he would determine that impertinent, but she was, after all, a princess. She could afford to talk like that.

[Relairah]

As the group traveled along, consisting of three wolves, a lizard, and a guardian hawk, talking amongst themselves, or lost in thought, as Hawk was apparently, they or may not have noticed that they weren't alone. Soft, purplish colored paws tredded silently through the shadows. This wolf had moved through shadows his whole life. He had grown accustomed to being silent as a mouse, escaping all chances of sound. However, he wasn't much paying attention to the ground on which he moved. His eyes, the right blue, the left purple gazed at the group he followed. His large, beautifully colored butterfly wings were kept together and held above his lovely, purple pelt that hung on his back. Akuma knew that he wouldn't have been permitted to go with the group, but he had left the caves, acting as though he were going off again on his way, yet had indeed followed after Hawk, Ammolite, Phoebus, and Azarak.

He himself had been a bit surprised when they had stopped to let Yoshika join in the group. Yet he still had made no noise, only watched curiously. When Hawk and Ammolite had been inflicted by pain, he half wanted to burst out to their sides, looking over them with worried gaze and wanting to do something to ease their pain. Yet, it seemed the pain was a good sign? He said nothing, merely listened. Yet soon, his presence would become known. If they already knew of his presence, they were hiding it, or so he was sure.

SNAP!

He winced as a twig snapped under his large paw. His gaze fell from the group he'd been watching to the twig that now lay in half beneath his paw. He bit his lip, standing still a moment, ears twitching. Surely all of them had heard it. He turned his gaze upward toward the group once more, watching them with curious eyes, waiting for the words toward him that would follow the sound he had made. After a moment, he slowly began walking foward once more, unsure of what else to do. For one thing, and for a change in his life, he was not going to run. He was curious. And... well, he wanted to meet this princess whom Hawk was mated to. He knew it wouldn't be a simple introduction, but if they all made it through this little adventure, and returned to the Underground, he was sure he'd be glad to get to know the princess a little.

[Monkey Monk]

Hawk remained in his thoughts as his sister and Ammolite spoke. He was unaware of the world around him. Over and over his mind battered at the wall that held it where it was. Quite suddenly the mental barriers smashed into a million shards. Instantly he felt an open feelings that caused him to pause at the same time that their follower broke the twig. If one were to look, they would notice that his eyes were glowing brightly. His body was stiff and his tail rigid. He had not espected to acually succeed in doing that. Instantly he recoiled his thoughts to the safety of his mind. After several moment he began to search out for anything that resembled Istariel's mind. Maybe he could speak into her thoughts as they searched. Maybe she could tell him where she was.

Due to the timing, Yoshika froze at the same time her brother had. She would have noticed his odd state had they been in different circumstance. Quickly she looked to Ammolite and whispered. "We are not alone. I thought I had smelled another earlier, but now I know we are being followed. Did you hear that twig snap just a moment ago?" Slowly the indigo and cream femme began to slink off into the shadows. She intended to find the other and question them as to why they were being followed by the stranger. Of course she had not met Akuma and thus did not know that he was friend and not foe. As she creaped up behind him, she held her body low to the ground.

However, unlike Yoshika, Phoebus did notice the occurences that overtook Hawk. A sigh passed his lips as he paid no attention to their visitor. When he spoke, his voice was directed partially to Azarak. "I swear that boy gets into more trouble than is good for him. Already he is experimenting in things he is not trained for. Sadly, I can do nothing to stop him or help him. He'll just have to learn on his own..."

~

It seemed that Istariel's attempts to distract him would not work. At her question he flicked his tail slowly in slight agitation. "The master is all knowing and treats me like the servant I am. My purpose now is to only serve his will." His voice seemed distant. That was most likely due to the intensity with which he read those tablets. After a moment he turned around to face her. He muttered a few odd words and watched as the black sand would begin to glow red. He waited impatiently but seemed dissapointed as nothing would happen. Quickly he barked out a single word and went back to his reading angrily. "Niet!"

[Felypsa]

Ammolite might have noticed Hawk’s experiments had the twig not snapped at the exact same time. Before she could say anything, however, Yoshika had already slunk into the brush, vanishing. Ammolite sniffed the air and only then realized that there was a scent. Immediately she recognized it. Smiling, she said out loud, “Oh—it’s Akuma! He’s come to join us…” She wondered if anyone even heard her; everyone seemed to be huddled in their own concerns, even the creatures on her back. She hoped Yoshika wouldn’t attack Akuma.

Azarak too had observed Hawk’s endeavors. He winced a little. “The princess has her own mind-magic, but she has been trained rigorously in the art. There are, of course, grave consequences when the power of the mind isn’t used correctly. Hopefully, though, Hawk won’t suffer too much; we need him.” He cocked his head to one side. “It seems our party is about to increase by one member yet again.”

*

Istariel sighed as her captor answered her curtly but did not yield to her distraction. She curled up closer to the center, as far from the edges of the circle as she could. Her fear of the border only increased when the black sand heated up to scarlet—red as blood. Istariel hated the color and its implications.

Suddenly she felt strange; a force tugging at the corner of her mind. She resisted it, believing it was her captor’s mischief again. She did not recognize the presence; it was too weak and inexperienced. Though it was very feeble, it was persistent; it kept pushing at the edge of her mind. In exasperation, Istariel shoved a sharp mind-spike into the force to discourage its probing, not realizing it was only her hapless mate attempting to establish a connection between them.

Having taken care of that nuisance, Istariel tried to prevent her captor from getting back to work. Seeing the black circle glow red was frightening; Istariel was afraid of what would happen if the spell worked properly. “What’s your name, anyway?” she asked him. Maybe if she could get him to tell her about himself…it might be enough…

[Relairah]

He stopped in his step once more, stiffening slightly. Ears twitched, the newest addition to the group, Yoshika, had left. He listened, and smiled slightly when Ammolite's voice reached his ears. Perhaps he should've just shown himself before, but there was no point in wishing that now. Still... blue and purple eyes gazed around him, searching the shadows which he himself usually was so acquainted with. He failed to look behind him, though he knew she was somewhere around him. He shrugged, maybe he shouldn't worry about Yoshika. He didn't move for a moment, and then trotted foward, smiling slightly when he got to Ammolite's side. "Uhm, I knew that your father and them wouldn't let me come along..." he said both softly and slowly. "Anyway, you don't mind if I tag along?" he asked.

His gaze left her's briefly, looking at Azarak and Phoebus. They seemed to be just the way they were when he had first met them, except that time they were arguing, over something he didn't care to remember. However, they both seemed to be speaking about Hawk. He turned his gaze toward the golden colored wolfen, brows furrowing slightly. "I-Is everything okay?" he asked, his words dirrected toward Ammolite. His gaze shifted back to hers after a moment of watching Hawk with concern. He flicked his tail slightly, his mind completely forgetting about Yoshika.

[Monkey Monk]

As his attempts were parried, Hawk indeed persisted. Yet quite suddenly his mind was alight with a white hot pain. His thoughts retracted as he fell to the ground. A cry of pain rang out as he tried to shake the pain from his mind. Yet like his attempts, it seemed to not end. The golden wolf tried to bury his face into the ground, the pain slowly subsided. When it was all over, he fell down to the ground on his side. He had trouble breathing at the moment. His mouth was gaped open to breath but he only could get short gasps. However, as he began to calm down, it became easier to breath. Yet he did not attempt anything to rise at the moment.

At Ammolite's words, Yoshika began to show herself. Yet it was Hawk's pain that hastened her in her actions. Quickly she bounded past Akuma, having forgotten him as he had her. The femmora skidded to a halt by her brother. Distress was an obvious emotion within her as she watched her sibling gasp for breath and call out in pain. As whatever plagued him began to fade away, she took a step backwards. Suddenly Yoshika lost her footing and fell down onto her hind end. Blankely she stared at her brother with a protective gaze. She had just gotten back the only living member of her family and the one she had been closest to, she was not going to loose him again.

Phoebus however, was only slightly startled by the cries of pain. With concern in his fierce eyes, he looked over to Hawk. Once the mascu seemed to recover from the obvious mind attack, he looked over to Azarak. "And he just learned his first lesson." An onlooker might relate this bird and lizard to wizened old men. The way they spoke about things with such knowledge. A slight smirk would cross the bird's beak(if only he had lips) as he thought this to himself. He did not know about Azarak, but he himself could very well qualify as an old being. It seemed only fitting to envision himself as thus.

~

The captore seemed to be fueled in his search by the failure. He was nearly frantic to find the right spell. His master would not be pleased if he failed in this task. Quickly his eyes scanned over the words, but he was forced off track at Istariel's voice. He cried out a curse and spun around to face her. His eyes were alight with fury as he stepped toward her. "My name is Kenei, but you should be quiet. My master will not be pleased if I fail. He plans to use you to torture the golden Elite and if I can not do so, he will simply kill you." With that he turned around and went back to his readings. Elite...now that word might seem familiar. But where from? If one remembered clearly enough, they would recall it from Hawk's story. How he and the Defenders had been a murderous group called the Elite. And how a being had used an ancient and dark magic to kill one of their group and Icewolf's first family.

[Felypsa]

Ammolite opened her maw to respond to Akuma, when suddenly Hawk bent over in excrutiating pain. She blinked and saw that Yoshika had gone to her brother’s side. Ammolite too hurried over, asking urgently if Hawk were okay. “What happened?” she cried. “Oh, Hawk, will you be alright?” In that moment, her true concern for him showed. But she quickly hid it and turned back to the newest arrival with apology on her face. “Oh, Akuma, I am so sorry. There is more to this mission that to simply ‘tag along.’ I believe I speak for everyone when I say I do not mind you coming along, but you must be certain…this is a quest for death.” She nodded fervently, then looked back sadly to Hawk. She whispered, “Things are not so straightforward anymore. Every moment we take a risk to our life. Oh, Hawk. Please be okay…”

Azarak winced as he observed the agony in Hawk’s mind but, like Phoebus, seemed to be unsurprised by it. “So it appears,” he said softly in reply to his comrade. “I could have told him that it’s rude to try to burst into someone’s mind, even his own beloved’s…ironically, Istariel was the one to push him out, I believe. She was acting only on reflex, though.” The lizard sighed a little, fitting very much Phoebus’s imagined comparison; indeed, Azarak himself was old as dirt, though he revealed that to no one. “I hope he does not try that again. He is upsetting Yoshika and Ammolite.”

*

Istariel saw to her triumph that she had succeeded in distracting her captor just a little. It might be enough. She listened closely to his response, tucking away every word into the back of her mind; each one probably had some significance. Kenei. That was his name. Kenei had just revealed a little more of his master’s grand plan, wittingly or no. Istariel now knew why she was here, and what she was being used for.

The realization filled her with sorrow. I would Hawk had never fallen in love with me! she thought. Then he would not be hurt like this. Again she resolved to protect her newfound secret with everything she had. They will find, I do not bend to torture so easily!

Despite Kenei’s angry warning, Istariel continued to talk. “The golden Elite? That’s what you think he is?” She had indeed remembered Hawk’s history from the time he had once related it. “He’s an Elite no longer, you know. He’s a Defender. They’re all Defenders. They have long since renounced their old ways of murder and have sought to right the wrongs they once committed.” She did not mention Tagger, though; this situation required tact and diplomacy, which meant not revealing everything she knew. Hold the cards close to her chest, and don’t let anyone see your hand.

[Relairah]

Akuma didn't expect Ammolite to answer him the way Hawk suddenly dropped in pain. His brows knit together once more, and he frowned deeply, his paws carrying him to the golden wolfen's side. He glanced at Ammolite and Yoshika, then back down at Hawk. By hearing what Phoebus and Azarak had said, he had been able to figure out and understand what had happened. He bit his lip, the words that Ammolite spoke to him plastered on his mind. He knew that he was risking his life by coming along with the party. But he didn't mind. He had nothing to lose anyway, and perhaps it would turn out for benefit to them all. If any life should be taken, perhaps it would be his so that those that mattered could escape. Who knew.

Still, his thoughts were kept on Hawk. He was glad when the golden wolf began to breathe easier, yet he wasn't one to merely walk away at signs of that. Asking whether or not Hawk was okay, was something he didn't need to do. Instead, he said nothing. If one were to look into them, his eyes gave all his thoughts, withouth him having to speak them aloud. Briefly his eyes went to Ammolite's amulet, though he didn't know why. He thought maybe she could heal him if anything had happened, yet quickly tossed that thought from his mind. If Hawk needed healing, he'd offer. He sat back on his haunches, "Can you stand?" he questioned softly. He knew that rest right now was something none of them really wanted.

[Monkey Monk]

A groan of ache came forth from the golden mascu. His eyes opened as he looked up to the others. Not one to be coddled, he slowly began to rise to his feet. After shaking his head slowly to rid himself of the last twinges of pain, he looked to the others. "I'm alright, I'm alright..." But I definately won't be doing it like that again... His golden eyes darted to Azarak and Phoebus. He had caught the lizard's final words. So he had managed to find Istariel's mind. Such knowledge comforted him. It gave further proof that she was alive. Quickly he nodded his head to the other's questions and resumed his walking. Already he had wasted time in lieing on the ground. He would not allow himself rest until his beloved Istariel was safe.

Yoshika watched with relief as he sibling rose. Yet she was not all too convinced by his words. She too tuned in to the conversation between her guardian and Azarak in time to hear the lizard's last plead. Her upset? Never. She was just concerned for her sibling. Yet before she could do anything else to tend to the mascu's good health, he was off again. With a sigh she looked to Ammolite and Akuma before treading quickly after her brother. He needed to rest, and of course she did not know about his oath. However, she did not voice the words that rang in his thoughts. She needed to watch over her baby brother. She needed to be there if he needed her help with any task.

Phoebus let loose a sigh at Azarak's words. Yet he waited untill they were not being listened to before speaking himself. As soon as they were once more alone in their conversation, the bird of prey spoke forth. "If I know anything about that boy, he will keep trying until he succeeds. Yet he won't do it the exact same way each time. He'll keep tweaking his methods, trying to find the right way to connect with Istariel. That stubborn whelp. If only our family, and yes I mean to call us all a family, if only our family was not in trouble. Then I would be able to instruct him properly upon his abilities. He is slowly becoming to realize the potential of his family. Pretty soon his sister will be experiencing some off occurences as well I would wager."

~

Quite suddenly there was a change in Kenei. He tensed up for a moment before relaxing. With his back to her, he began to cackle out evily. Yet his voice was different. It was more ragged, more dark. Slowly he turned around to face her. Yet his eyes were no longer completely black. They were not colored a golden brown. Still chuckling he slowly walked to the outside of the circle of black sand. "Do you mean to protect him? Do not even bother! Elite, Defender, Prince. No matter his title he is still the bastard I know him to be! He and his comrades killed my mate! Your lover stole my children! And you know what? I am going to repay the favor. I killed Icewolf's family. Oooooo his son's blood was so young and sweet. Now all there is to do is pick his friends off one by one. I'll make that White Devil suffer for what he did. This servant of mine is weak. But no this. You will watch that golden monstrosity die right before your eyes. And then you know what I will do?" The mascu took a deep breath and chuckled deeply. "I'll cut open your stomach and make you see your infants before slicing your throat." A most evil laugh rang out. Yet it began to fade as Kenei began to turn back to himself. To any with the right knowledge, it would be easy to tell that 'the master' had just possessed his servant entirely. With a smirk, the kidnapper went back to his tablets and returned to reading.

[Felypsa]

Ammolite was not entirely convinced that Hawk had recovered already. She hurried until she matched his pace, and spoke to him softly. She was, of course, completely ignorant of the very quiet conversation taking place on her back between the hawk and the lizard. She said, “Hawk, you remember…I have this healing ability, if you need it. And I remember the first time we met. You had sliced open your own leg and claimed it did not hurt. Forgive me, but I do not always believe you when you protest you are healthy.” It was true, she could use her amulet to heal him if it were necessary. The only reason she had hesitated to do so before was because of the malfunction of her amulet that had caused her to become a ferocious tornado. She did not think that would happen again, but one was never too sure. Still, she was willing to risk it for Hawk’s sake.

Azarak’s voice was so low that only Phoebus could hear it, and then, only barely. “Your family, as you call it, is very interesting. I imagine there is much more to these desert wolves than even I can gather. You speak of great potential. I begin to understand why Hawk was chosen, though evidently he had not reached even a portion of his potential even as an Elite.” The lizard was merely speculating, speaking half to himself. “Ammolite, too…I don’t think even Fiendark realized her uniqueness.” But he fell silent after that; he did not want to reveal too much about himself or Ammolite, not even to this guardian.

*

To Istariel’s shock and fright, Kenei became possessed by his master before her very eyes. The moment it happened, all the allure and seduction of Kenei fell away, replaced by a mad maniac’s vengeful words. Yet these pierced her heart more deeply than any of Kenei’s false assertions.

She listened in horror as her captor’s master ranted about the misfortunes he had suffered at the paws of Icewolf and the other members of the Elite. But that did not sway her love for Hawk or her faith in his friends: she knew of their past terrible deeds, but firmly believed in their complete transformation from Elite to Defenders. She was undaunted by Shanto’s rages against them, though they filled her with the same sorrow that Hawk must have felt when he realized that all his deeds were truly horrific.

But what really destroyed Istariel’s strong spirit was the master’s final threats. They knew! They knew about her pregnancy, about the lives that grew within her belly, the results of the passionate love between her and Hawk. They knew, and they would destroy them after they destroyed Hawk, after they made her destroy Hawk, and they would kill everything that was meaningful in Istariel’s life.

The menaces were so harsh that Istariel’s spirit was broken, and she fell to the floor weeping. “I want to die!” she screamed, both in her mind and out loud. But she could not die. Not yet. Her time would come. But it was not now…

[Relairah]

Eyes followed Hawk as he rose to his paws and began foward once more, telling everyone he was perfectly fine. For a moment, he simply stood there, watching the golden wolf. He hoped he was as fine as he pretended to be. Finding he was going to be left behind, he hurredly trotted up, moving along behind Hawk and Ammolite. He listened as the others spoke, and though he didn't reply or comment with anything, he agreed with them. He mentally sighed, ears twitching slightly now and then as if he were trying to listen for something, although he wasn't.

Words were in his mind, he just had a hard time saying them. He wanted to tell Ammolite she should save her healing for Istariel or something, that if Hawk needed it he could handle him. Yet, perhaps he was wrong. The uncertainty of whether or not this was a good opinion or not was what kept him silent. He wanted to find out more about Yoshika. But only glanced in her dirrection briefly. He had other things he wanted to do, that he kept to himself. It was perhaps bothersome on others and himself, for him to be so kept back, but he was used to being ignored, so had learned to keep to himself.

He bit his lip, pondering whether or not to speak the words that wanted to come forth from his mind. It would be awkward saying it, he was sure. Afterall, Ammolite didn't need him making her decisions. At last he spoke, "Uhm, Ammolite," he paused, increasing his speed just enough to move from behind Hawk to Ammolite's side. His gaze fell upon Hawk as he continued, "And Hawk... if you need healing," his gaze shifted to Ammolite, his words now directed more toward her, "I could do it... unless you want to do it... I just thought you might want to, to save your strength for later in the journey." There, he'd said it. Yet somehow, it did not feel like a weight off his chest.

[Monkey Monk]

However, Hawk did not hear the voices of the others yet once more. He had again slipped back into his thoughts. His mind battered at the cage that held it still. This time, his thoughts escaped with far more ease. For several moments he tried to find the mind that had been his beloved Istariel's. When he succeeded in his search, he did not try to press in this time. Gently his thoughts would brush against her own. A warm and gentle touch, like how they had caressed one another so few times. Patiently he waited for some form of reaction to the slight touch of minds. This time he braced himself for another mental attack. Most of the pain last time had come from his shock and being caught off guard.

As she trailed after her younger sibling, Yoshika's gaze drifted over to the newcomer. Her doing so was just in time to see him looking at her. When their gazes would lock, she would offer a friendly smile. This shy mascu caught her interest. He seemed to hold so many secrets, and being the ever curious being she was she wanted to know every detail of those secrets. For a moment she was simply silent. Yet such a stasis could not last with that nagging desire for knowledge. When she spoke, she tried her best to keep a polite tone despite the intrusiveness of her questions. "So you're Akuma? Where do you come from? How do you know everyone? You are a healer? How did you get that power?"

"I must correct you on one thing dear Azarak. I said 'our' family for a reason. Like it or not, we have all seemed to grown together into a tight knit group. Hell there was a time when I would eat a lizard without batting an eyelash, not that I have any to bat. We have become a family of sorts. We coexist and help each other in every endeavor that comes to our attention." Slowly he let his fierce yellow eyes drift over to the questioning Yoshika was giving to Akuma. After a bit he looked ahead to the golden wolf. A sigh escaped his lips. "I told you he'd go right back to it. It's his damn stubborness, get's it from his grandfather you know. I remember when his grandfather found a vine of grapes in an oasis. It was too high for him to reach and the area was too crowded for him to fly. First he tried jumping, then he tried throwing things at it. I told him that if he kept throwing stones he would only bruise the grapes and make them no good to him. For three hours that idjit tried to get those grapes down. Eventually he got so mad he struck the tree which swayed and down the grapes fell. Funny..if you think about it, that story can teach you many things."

~

Istariel's plead seemed to do more than she had wanted or even expected. The words of a mother sent Kenei into another one of his mental struggles. "All in good time my dear. NO NO NO! I WON'T DO IT! I must! The master commands it! NO! She is a mother to be! They killed the master's mate. DAMN THE MASTER TO HELL!" Quite suddenly he struck out at the tablets. The piece of carved stone shot across the room and shattered against the wall. With wide eyes he looked at the remnants of the artifacts, fear coarsing through his veins. A cry of pain pierced the air as he fell to ground, almost as if having been struck in the heart. Breathing heavily he tried to crawl across the ground futily. "Master no! NO! NOOOOOO!" Repeatedly his body reacted as if being struck. He cringed and gasped for breath. Blood leaked from his mouth as he laid on the ground whimpering his pleads to no one.