“Yes!” Laughing in mingled relief and pride, he released his hold on the grate and fell, using Airjitzu to catch himself. He sat and allowed his legs a short respite before attempting that same trick again. This time he slammed the grate open, tumbled in mid-air for a second before rolling unceremoniously on the ground. Dirt and pebbles scraped his hands, stinging. He lay prostrate for a moment. Then he pushed himself up with a low moan. Nothing stirred in the courtyard of dark holes. The sky appeared as a fading palette of crimson and violet, cool in the young dawn. The sound of clattering boots broke the silence. The guards! Leaping to his feet, Kai ran softly to the south wall and ducked behind a pile of crates. Peeking over these boxes, he caught sight of two men in Pingous uniform running out, spears in hand. One of them spotted the open grate and veered toward it. “By stars—one of the prisoners escaped!” “Impossible.” They reached the hole and bent over it. The second one growled, “The holes are much too deep for anyone to climb out of. This is merely an empty cell—” “But don’t you smell the smoke? And look! Aren’t those the manacles they used for the prisoner they brought in?” The first man’s voice rose shrilly. “The Fire Mage has—!” His voice was cut off when a kick to the back of his head sent his eyes rolling. His companion whirled around to find Kai standing before him. “Hey—!” His cry ended with a yelp as a plume of fire billowed over his head. He staggered back with his arms up. In the blink of an eye Kai leapt atop the guard, riding on his shoulders. The guard stumbled. Kai reached out and grabbed the body of the spear with the crook of his elbows, yanking it back and under the guard’s chin. The guard tried to pull the spear away, but his opponent’s weight on his shoulders was already too much, and he choked. Kai didn’t let go until his ride collapsed, passed out. He waited for a moment, sitting atop his victim. Nothing else stirred from the castle. He got up and, one by one, dragged both guards out of the courtyard and hid them behind the box of crates. After a minute, he reappeared fully garbed in Pingous uniform. He hated having to leave behind the bright red cloak, as he had become rather fond of it, but wearing it with the uniform would have been too conspicuous. After scanning the courtyard for any unwanted eyes, he straightened his shoulders and strode to the castle. He hoped the long leather gauntlets would hide his bleeding hands from sight. His pulse quickened when he found a door and entered a dank hall. Maroon-clad soldiers were racing this way and that in a panicked clamor. Someone was shouting, “To arms! Jëmlen is under attack! To arms, and out the north wall!” An armory opened up nearby and out came a brief torrent of soldiers. Metal clanged and jingled as they grabbed their swords, spears, halberds and shields. Disoriented, Kai could only stare at them.
-last edited on Mar 8, 2022 20:41:57 GMT by LordTigress
Post by LordTigress on Mar 8, 2022 15:08:22 GMT
Someone grabbed his shoulder and swung him around. “You!” A tall man with a wrinkled face roared in his face, “Get down to the dungeons and make sure the prisoners don’t try anything funny! The regular guards are gone and I need someone down there!” Kai hid his hands behind his back. “Uhhh… where’s the dungeon again?” he asked stupidly. The commander’s eyes rolled to the back of his head. Snatching Kai by the collar, he half-dragged him down the hall, away from all the ruckus. They passed by flaming torches, faded tapestries and the occasional maid before stopping at a spiraling staircase. He shoved Kai toward it. “There, you pea-brained idiot! Get down there and stay down there until someone comes to replace you!” He booted Kai in the rear end. “Get going!” Biting back a scorching retort, Kai scurried down the dark staircase. In his haste he tripped and started slipping and tumbling head over heels. “Ack—!” He tucked his hands beneath his armpits and let himself fall, thankful for the iron helmet over his head. Clenching his eyes shut, he felt cold stone hit him as he rolled, the world spinning. Then he flew and landed on the ground. He opened his eyes to find himself lying in a large underground room, lined with damp, dirty cobblestone and a few faint torches. “Ow.” Wincing, he picked himself up, holding up his hands carefully, and inspected his surroundings. There were no windows. Accompanying the room were a few pieces of bare furniture. At the other end of the room was a large iron door. Thankfully it wasn’t locked and Kai only had to bump his hip against it to enter. Beyond the door was a long corridor, so long that he couldn’t see where it ended. It just went on and on into the shadows. Lining the walls of this corridor were many iron doors. He gulped. So many doors! Which one held Garagan? Only one way to find out… Raising his voice, he called, “Garagan? You there?” Silence. He lit one hand on fire and started down the hallway. “Hey, Garagan! It’s me, Kai!” Several voices stirred sleepily, none of them familiar. One voice growled, “Oi! Wot’s this ruckus about, then?” “Shh!” “I’ll not ‘shh’, they’re hollerin’ in the hall, now how’s a fellow supposed to sleep with that racket?” “Hey!” Kai frowned at the door, though there appeared to be no way for the prisoners to see him. “Anyone know where Garagan is?” “Why’s he asking us?” “I can’t see a darned thing, how should I know?!” “Blast the lad.” Huffing, Kai kept going down the corridor and ignored the angry grumbles from the other prisoners. “Garagan! Don’t mind me, just risking life and limb coming down here to rescue you!” The light from his fire did not show any promising clues. The floor was slick in places with water and mud and he was forced to trod carefully. He wished he could hold his nose, the smell was so bad. Yet on he called, again and again. “Kai? That you, kid?”
“Garagan!” Relieved and elated, Kai stumbled to one of the doors. “Hey, yeah, it’s me!” “Kid! How the Star Guards did you—?” “I’m here to rescue you!” “Aye, I got that.” Even with his voice muffled behind the door, the sarcasm was as scathing as ever. “Open up, then.” Kai froze, stomach sinking. “Uhh… heheh, you’re not going to believe this, but…” “What? Just open the blasted door already!” “I would, but, umm… I don’t have a key.” Silence followed his words. He stood there awkwardly in the hall and swallowed, mouth dry. One of the prisoners down the corridor giggled quietly. “Are you mad at me?” Kai asked. Garagan hollered, “You come all this way and make me think yer gon’ get me outta here and then realize ye don’t even have the blooming key?!” “Pretty much.” “How are you still alive?! How in Star Guards does anyone survive like this?” The door shuddered with a loud bang; Garagan must have kicked it. “Blooming ninjas. No wonder I never heard of ninjas, they all died off from stupidity.” Kai would have defended himself if it weren’t for the idea that popped into his head. “Stand back.” “What for, ye pea-brained, spike-headed goblin?” Kai took a step back and studied the cell door. It looked thick, made completely of iron or some other metal. The lock looked sturdy, as did the hinges bolted into the wall. Eyes on the door, he held out his arms and summoned a new surge of energy. A booming roar shook the dungeon from the ceiling to the floor, and a flaming red dragon materialized. It smashed against the walls on either side of the hall, and one great burning paw crushed the cell door to smithereens. Broken stone pieces fell and clattered around Kai as a plume of dust clouded the air. As soon as he’d summoned the dragon, he made it disappear with a flick of his hands. The energy returned to him but he still felt lightheaded, and he staggered into the wall. The dust cleared, and he looked to see Garagan standing in the smashed cell, staring at him with an open jaw. “Wh— what in the name of…?” he rasped as he stepped over the pile of smashed bricks and dust. “Just a stupid ninja thing,” Kai murmured. His wry grin faded when he looked over Garagan. He had a black eye and a gash stood out on his lip. His scruffy dark blond hair was streaked with dirt, his face was unshaven, and he’d been stolen of his weapons, cloak, belts, and leather jerkin, which left him wearing only a pale tunic, dark pants and boots. “You all right?” “Just dandy.” Boom. Garagan and Kai stiffened at the sound. The older man’s gaze flickered up the dank corridor. “It’s happening, isn’t it?” “I think so. We need to get to the drawbridge, don’t we?” “Aye.” He snatched the sleeve of Kai’s arm and yanked him down the hall. “Let’s go.” Garagan’s pull on his arm caused his hand to bump against Kai’s thigh. The jolt of pain was unexpected and he cried out.
Garagan stopped, letting go. “What is it? What’s wrong?” “Ugh…” Kai leaned over and breathed hard, as if more oxygen would make the sting go away. “It’s just… my hands…” He held them out for Garagan to see. “Oi, yer hurt!” Garagan gestured to the ground; sure enough, red droplets were decorating the stone floor and rubble. Kai stared at the little dots dimly, wondering if all of them were really coming from him. Surprisingly gentle, Garagan took Kai by the wrists and stared at the burned hands. Kai protested, “Don’t worry, I can still use my powers. I just have to—” Eyes flashing, Garagan rumbled in a low voice, “Who did this to you?” “What?” Rough hands snatched him by the collar and shook him lightly. The old warrior seethed, “Who did this to you, kid?” “Cool it! I did it to myself—to melt the cuffs.” Kai forced a shadow of his cocky smile. “It’ll take more than that to keep the Fire Mage locked up.” Garagan didn’t laugh. He seemed to be thinking out loud. “We can hide you in one of the cellars ‘till it’s over… But, no, then you’d be trapped if something goes wrong. Fine, then, I’ll get you out and we can—” “What? No! I’m staying! I can still fight.” Kai gestured around the corridor. “I just made a flipping dragon appear out of thin air! I’m not helpless!” “You sure?” “Of course I am!” Kai gestured lightly. “My powers are why Bird put us together for this mission, right?” “Exactly. But if yer out of commission, lad, we need to get you outta the picture, for both your safety and everyone else’s.” Anxiety gone, Garagan spoke stiffly. “Now, yer sure you can do this?” Kai met his gaze firmly. “I’m sure.” His gaze was met with an approving nod. “Fine.” Garagan started down the corridor. “Now, where’s my blooming sword? I need a drink…”
* * *
Screaming. There was too much screaming. Liana cowered behind the boulder with her hands clenched over her ears, but they did little to drown out the horrifying sounds echoing off the walls. They seemed to seep into her bones and rattle her body. Someone grabbed her shoulder. She jumped and held her hands in front of her face. “Stay here.” It was Cole. She fairly melted with relief before comprehending his words. “You’re—? I can’t…” A part of herself felt disgusted by her blatant terror, but she couldn’t help it. She felt herself trembling from head to toe, and her body groaned in protest every time she moved. Shakily she brushed a strand of hair out of her face and winced when her fingers brushed a gash on her forehead. “Yes, you can.” His hands cupped her face—warm and comforting, familiar. She wanted him to stay. “I’ll stay close by. You’ve just gotta save your strength.” When she didn’t reply, he urged. “Do you trust me?” She swallowed. No matter what Raven Frost did to her, now was not the time for weakness. Steeling herself, she took one of his hands and pressed her lips against it. “Stay alive.”
He pulled her into a hug and she pressed her face into his chest. Then he was gone, steel ringing in the air. She curled up behind the boulder again, focusing on breathing and gathering strength. No amount of her own pain could excuse her from this war.
* * *
Ronin fell to the ground screaming and clutching his face as if it were on fire. Wolf Paw crouched down beside him, yowling, “Get up, red-hat-man! What’s wrong with you—?!” Her cry ended in a sputter. She too stumbled, blinking rapidly. Bristling, she stared around herself as if surrounded by a ring of enemies, though no cat was near her—until a large tom ran up and barreled her over, taking advantage of her bewilderment. Similar behaviors were coming from the others. Misako had stopped brandishing her staff and appeared to be trying to stifle tears. Mr. Brookstone’s face had gone deathly pale and he stumbled into a pile of boulders. Lightning Streak’s eyes glazed over and she hesitated just long enough for her opponent to pin her down. The other werecats on their side were acting similarly, seeming distracted and pained by something invisible. What is happening…? Zane kicked an enemy werecat aside as his gaze roved over the scene and to one of the largest boulders at the far end of the cavern. Across the mass of thrashing feline bodies, Black Blood—no, Blood Star—balanced on her hind paws, cackling with glee. Raven Frost stood upon another boulder to her left. Zane could just barely see his muzzle moving—he was speaking incantations “Nap Attacks— the curses!” he exclaimed to himself. “They’re bringing everyone’s worst memories back to weaken them!” For a split second he wondered why he wasn’t affected before remembering that as a nindroid, he was virtually immune to mind-bending. He looked to the east side of the cavern hopefully, only to find that Matilda was locked in a duel with No Claw, who was spewing curses at her left and right. She was too busy to help the others right now. A jolt of panic threatened to overtake him. Is everyone under the curses? A quick sweep of the scene showed, however, that Wu and Skylor appeared to be holding their own. Perhaps Skylor possessing the power of Mind aided her, and Master Wu was just— well, Master Wu. They appeared to be aware of what was happening and fought all the more desperately to protect their friends. Cats were swarming over them. Zane snapped to action. He shoved himself past several snarling werecats to get to Ronin and Wolf Paw. A nekomata was already on top of Ronin and dragging him away by the legs. A shocked scream of pain broke from Ronin—the pain was bringing him back to the real world. “Let him go!” Tekko-cagi claws strapped to his hands, Zane threw himself at the nekomata and delivered a stunning punch to its face. The nekomata released Ronin with a yowl and stepped back. Zane and the huge cat faced each other, glaring and analyzing.
With a twitch of its forked tails, the nekomata suddenly transformed into a bakeneko. Small and fast, it ran up and launched itself at Zane’s face. He stumbled back as needle-like claws scratched his eyes. He reached to swipe it off, but it scrambled up onto his hair and continued scratching at his eyes. Then the cat’s weight disappeared. He looked in time to see it being chucked like a baseball in the air, screeching angrily before it disappeared beyond the crowd. Zane turned to see Ronin standing there, breathing heavily. He wore a wry but haggard expression. “Are you all right?” Zane scanned him quickly. “Your leg—” “Hurts like crazy, thanks for noticing,” Ronin grunted. “Where’s Wolf Paw—?” Zane felt himself thrown off his feet as two people rammed into him. Claws raked down his back. Out the corner of his eye he could see Ronin receiving similar treatment, eliciting another groan of pain. Gritting his teeth, Zane moved to swing his elbow around, but a large hand slammed down on his arm and twisted it behind his back. Saliva dripped on his ear as a voice hissed, “Looks like we’ll have to take this machine apart, friends. Get his arms!” Alarms started blaring through Zane’s head. He felt a great weight pressing him to the ground. More warriors came and grabbed his arms and yanked hard. Thankfully, his titanium limbs resisted, much to their frustration. A forest of legs was thickening around Zane, yet he could see just enough beyond them. Several cats were atop someone, snarling and yowling in triumph. He couldn’t see Ronin. Only a red straw hat lying on its side testified to its owner’s presence. The warriors were tugging harder, and the metal plating around Zane’s shoulders creaked dangerously. At the side of his visual screen, Pixal was wringing her hands. He couldn’t remember the last time she looked so scared. “Some artificial ligaments are being ripped apart in your left and right arms, especially around the sockets. I am trying to lock the connections tighter, but there is too much external pressure, especially—!” Pixal’s voice was drowned out by more yowls. Zane’s gaze flickered again, seeking out his friends. His stomach dropped. Misako and Mr. Brookstone were being driven apart from Wu and edging into a dark tunnel, surrounded by werecats. Skylor was wrestling with half a dozen warriors at the foot of the boulders, light and energy bursting desperately from her hands as a nekomata landed on her back and threw her down. Matilda remained locked in battle with No Claw, but he was pushing her out of the cavern and into a different tunnel. “They’re separating us!” Zane realized out loud. His pulse hiccuped—or was that his power source? “They’re driving us apart to weaken us—!” His exclamation switched to a scream, more out of shock than pain. Machinery whirred and screeched shrilly in his ears as something—something large and fizzing with electricity—was ripped out of his shoulder.
Blinking past the flashing red lights in his head, he looked up to see his right arm dangling from one of the werecats’ grasp. He stared dumbly at it, thinking it looked odd by itself, unattached to the rest of his metal body. The werecat, a tall, thin-faced man, grinned wickedly and tossed the lifeless arm away. “Looks like nature wins over technology, Son of Ice.”
* * *
Cats big and small were swarming around Lightning Streak. Claws and teeth ripped into her fur and dragged her down as jeering caterwauls roared in her ears. She hardly noticed them. Visions of her brothers and sisters and friends being attacked by eagles and bears blazed in her head. Trapped in a nightmare, she could only curl into a ball and take it—and pray to her ancestors that what she was seeing wasn’t real. “Streak!” Some of the weight vanished from her back. The vision of screaming eagles and roaring bears vanished. Gasping, she sat up. Her vision swam, but she could see the Son of Earth barreling through the crowd of warriors, fake claws slashing this way and that as he took them down. Attention diverted, the warrior cats attacked him. Shaking, Lightning Streak staggered to her paws. Something was oozing down the side of her face—one ear was gone, she realized dimly. Her head felt lighter and unbalanced. Funny how she’d hardly noticed while stuck in that nightmare. Ouch, it hurt so much now, though… “Little help here!” The Son of Earth’s voice snapped her back to reality. Streak ran and dug her claws into the back of a black-pelted tom—Jackdaw Eye. As he caterwauled and attempted to spin around, she yanked him back and raked her claws over his ears. Another cat jumped at her from the side and shoved her off of Jackdaw Eye. She thrust her legs up to kick at her new opponent’s face, swiping claws at his chest fur. He dodged her strike and bent down to bite her shoulder. Screeching, she writhed and tried to reach him with her claws and teeth. He kept moving in a circle, half-dragging her by the shoulder fur. She struggled, but intense pain was throbbing— “Sayonara, ya little freak!” The Son of Earth appeared with a bakeneko clinging to his shoulder and kicked Streak’s opponent in the face. Something crunched, and the cat released her with a screech. He staggered off. “You OK there?” Cole bent down offering a hand, then appeared to remember that cats don’t have hands. “Y— yes… I think so…” She stumbled up and the room seemed to spin. Lights flickered around her vision, but she forced herself to ignore them. “Well—not really, no, but I don’t exactly have a choice, do I?” He flashed a smile, but it looked strained. “Behind you.”
Dismayed, Streak turned in time to see a female bounding toward her. Before she could summon the strength to defend herself, however, a boulder flew out of nowhere and smashed into the warrior cat, chucking her out of view. Streak turned back to the Cole. “Thanks.” “No problem,” he grunted. Several other boulders hovered by his outstretched hands. “C’mon. Let’s—” A flash of lightning lit up the cavern, followed by a thundering crash. Streak stiffened, expecting another sorcerer’s curse. Above her head she sensed the Son of Earth tensing as well. The crowd of Moon Tribe warriors stalled for a moment at the light and noise, startled. Across the cavern Streak could make out Blood Star atop her pile of boulders, glaring around as if irritated by the interruption. A raw scream echoed from one of the main tunnels. Nya came running into view, tears pouring down her face. With a ball of swishing water hovering above each hand, she staggered out of the dark hole and glared into the crowd. Her gaze roved over the mass of fur before landing on Blood Star. “You monster!” she cried, voice sounding hoarse in the pause. “You destroyed Lloyd and Little Leaf! Your own sister!” Streak’s heart dropped. Little Leaf…? Not you, too! “No…” The broken-sounding gasp turned Streak’s gaze to Cole—his face looked twisted with both grief and anger. Movement appeared behind Nya. Jay ran in at full speed, practically flying past her. Streak felt startled by the expression of pure rage on his face. Lightning crackled at his fingertips, growing brighter as he charged the crowd of Moon Tribe warriors. “Ninjaaaaa-go!” Screaming a battle cry, he spun into a Spinjitzu vortex and threw himself into the army. Werecats started flying left and right, wailing in shock and then pain as they were flung into the walls. “For the Son of the First!” To Streak’s surprise, it was Sky Pelt who said this. In his human form he thrust a thin fist into the air. Magical energy surged around it, fizzing and crackling. He shouted again, “For Little Leaf!” “For Little Leaf! For our friends!” Another voice took up the cry—a black and white-spotted female, Wolf Paw—limped into view, grinning fiercely at the enemy warriors. “For the ninja!” Angry jeers rose from the Moon Tribe. “Traitors!” a voice snapped. “Shameless traitors—!” His voice was cut off when Sky Pelt shot a blue-colored curse at him. That seemed to be the signal to continue the battle, and the cats and humans alike surged into each other once again. A familiar voice shouted above the roar, “Ninjaaaa-go!” Streak looked up in time to see a bright golden Spinjitzu vortex fly over the crowd like a shooting star. Cole gasped. “Master Wu!” Mouth agape, he watched his master fly over the heads of the warrior cats and land on the pile of boulders on the far side. He rasped, “He’s going to get himself hurt.”
Blood Star glared down at the old human. He stood several yards away on some of the lower boulders, though he was making his way up towards her—faster than she would have expected of such an ancient creature. Sniffing, she turned toward Raven Frost. “Get down there and make sure they’re properly separated.” His white-tipped tails twitched with irritation. “But, we’ve nearly gotten all of them—” “Did I ask for your commentary? Get out of here!” She slashed at his face, but he jumped back and bounded away. She watched him angrily at first as he vanished beyond the crowd, then she giggled to herself. “Such arrogance. You have always been doomed to be your own self-destruction, little one.” Laughter dying, she whirled around to find the old man standing a yard away, balancing on one of the largest stones. He held a bamboo staff in one hand while stroking his long white beard with the other. The casual movement irritated her. She sneered, “Who’s the arrogant one here? The mighty lion, or the hunter who walks into the lion’s den?” “The lion, for she provoked the hunters to the point that they had no other choice. Now you have brought the hunters into your home, where you are most vulnerable.” She eyed him contemptuously. Until now, she had never paid much attention to the elder who was always with the ninja. She didn’t know why they would drag this old man around. He looked so small and frail, easy to snap in two. “You are wrong, ancient one.” “Prove me wrong, then.” He shifted into a fighting stance, gripping his staff with both hands. Baring her teeth, Blood Star transformed into her human body. Why not take it easy on the old tom? She would end him swiftly in any case. Balancing on bare feet, she bent to pick up a clearstone sword a warrior had left behind. “I’ll prove you wrong nine times over.” His beard twitched—a smirk, perhaps? An unearthly gold shimmer rose from his feet, and he spun around. “Ninjaaa—!” “Nope!” She darted forward and slashed her sword at his shoulder. With a grunt, the Spinjitzu vortex evaporated and Wu staggered back and clutched his shoulder. Already a red stain was appearing on his white sleeve. Blood Star smirked at the wound appreciatively. “I shall go easy on you for now. That way you will—” Something slammed into her chest and knocked the breath out of her. Stunned, she stumbled back and gasped for breath. Before she could raise her sword, Wu darted up and punched her squarely in one cheek. The force of the blow made her feel as if her brain was yanked from its place and slammed into the wall of her skull. As her senses returned to her, she realized she was lying on her back. Her head throbbed harder with a surge of anger when she saw that Wu was standing over her. She could swear she caught a smile of wry amusement beneath his stupid beard. Then his gaze hardened. “That was for young Eagle Talon.”
Heat burned her face, and not because of the new bruise. Enraged by the mention of her brother, Blood Star scrabbled to her feet and picked up the sword. “You’ll pay for that, old man.” Without waiting for another haughty response, she launched herself at him and swung the sword horizontally at his head. The glassy blade hit wood. Wu shoved his staff forward and she freed her sword from it. He advanced while twirling the staff over his head, then delivered a couple of bruising blows. The butt of it struck her ribcage twice and she gasped for air. She danced backwards over the boulders. She saw another blow coming and blocked it, thrusting the broad side of the blade before her face. The force of Wu’s blow made her arm tremble. With a snarl she used her sword to push his staff sideways while she lunged for him. She felt claws spring from her fingers. For a split second her eyes met his. With more agility than she could ever guessed of him, Wu fell onto his back with his legs up. Unable to stop herself, Blood Star tumbled over him. She felt his hands and feet shove her away before hitting the rocks—sharp stone pierced into her hips and shoulders painfully. Once again she gasped. Then he was standing over her and whacking her with the staff; bam, whack, bam, over and over again, like it was nothing. Indignation and rage surged through Blood Star. How dare this measly old man best her so easily, as if he were only humoring a kitten? She saw the staff falling toward her face. Snatching one hand up, she grabbed it and yanked it out of Wu’s grasp. She flung it away and heard the faint clatter of wood against stone as it tumbled down the pile. “My turn.” Like a coiled spring she was up on her feet again. Now he was exposed. She thrust the sword toward his heart. Twisting his body, Wu’s leg shot up and kicked; his foot made contact with her forearm, hard. Stunned, she released the sword. Before she could bend down to pick it up, he’d kicked it away. A frustrated scream broke her throat. She let fur and claws grow from her hands and was dimly aware of her human ears shifting into feline ones. Baring her teeth, she lunged for Wu and scratched at his face in an attempt to blind him. He danced backwards but did not retreat. Hands curled into fists, he punched at her clawed hands as they shot toward his eyes. He did not flinch. Again and again he warded her blows with his own, knuckles smashing into the palms of her hands. Occasionally her claws would scratch the surface of his fists or wrists, but these were small victories. The longer he resisted her, the angrier she felt.
They continued like this, almost dancing in a circle over the rocks. She tried lunging her head forward to bite him. That ended with a kick to the face. She didn’t try it again. He’d spin around to deliver a kick every once in a while, just as she thought she could predict his movements. It made her feel only angrier, how deftly he’d move as if he’d rehearsed this fight beforehand, yet she could never predict what he was about to do. Her head, shoulders, and hands throbbed hotly. Sweat trickled down the side of her face and her back. Yet he kept coming, pushing her closer and closer to the precipice with his kicks and punches. New hatred for the old man enflamed her face. Obviously hand-to-hand combat was not the way to do it. Apparently he was harder to destroy than she thought. He swung a kick for her shoulder, but she jumped back and nearly stumbled over the edge of the precipice. Empty space yawned behind her, where the sounds of struggle and screams came from. Wu rose his voice above the clamor. “Blood Star, end this war! Too many good people have died already. Your cause is not worth the lives of all your warriors.” She licked her lips slowly, as if savoring the taste of the wound by her mouth. “I am invincible. Everything was worth it.” “Even ghosts die at some time or another. Nine lives does not mean forever.” “Perhaps, but it definitely gives me a certain advantage.” Sneering, she began an incantation. Wu’s eyes flashed. He balanced on one foot and spun in a quick circle. Still speaking, she tensed, anticipating a Spinjitzu vortex. She was not prepared for the massive dragon that appeared in a burst of golden light. The great creature bellowed, its voice shaking the entire cavern. She stared at it, dumbfounded. She’d forgotten that the Sons and Daughters could summon dragons. Long whiskers twitching, the white dragon turned its golden eyes upon her. She hesitated—to continue the incantation or to—? The dragon answered that question for her. Its great fangs snapped toward her. With a startled shriek she plummeted off the ledge. Her hand grabbed onto a stray boulder just in time. She jolted to a stop and dangled in thin air. Her fingers stung from where she’d scraped them to grab the rock. Chest heaving, she dared to angle her head up. The white and gold dragon peered down at her and emitted a warning rumble. “You want magic, eh?” she spat. “I’ll give you magic, Son of the First!” Her newfound power surged through her veins—she could feel it, hot and cold at the same time, making her blood pump faster and giving new energy to her muscles and bones. She could see the bluish glow emitting from her body; from her eyes, from her forehead, from her mouth. It felt warm, empowering. The power of my ancestors’ spirits runs through me now.
With unearthly strength she pulled herself up and leapt atop the precipice. Without missing a beat she threw herself at the dragon and sank her claws into its heart. Had she been without her powers, the act would have been laughably impossible, but super strength surged through her arms like bullets and helped guide her claws to their target. It felt like punching through plywood. With a strained roar, the dragon vanished. Wu stood in its place, looking stunned. Cackling, Blood Star leapt atop him and dug her claws into his torso. A pained grunt came from him as he was slammed to the ground. He reacted fast—the golden sparkles of his Spinjitzu vortex started flying around them both. Warm wind picked up her hair and blew it around. Removing her claws from his torso, she grabbed Wu by his collar, twisting it, and yanked him to his feet. She slashed a handful of claws across his face. His concentration broken by shock and pain, the vortex vanished. “Clever,” she hissed into his bleeding face. “But not clever enough.” Blood Star heaved and chucked Wu off the side of the precipice. She stood there for a moment to gaze at his fallen figure, then at the encroaching crowd. With a flick of her tails she turned and vanished into one of the dark holes lining the wall.
Liana was on her feet now. She was shaking and feeling every muscle in her body ache in protest, but she was up. Her hands found the pair of nunchucks dangling from her belt. For some reason the warrior cats hadn’t taken them. Perhaps they thought they would be useless once she’d been possessed by Raven Frost. The noise was awful. She could barely make out who was an enemy and who was an ally. Occasionally she’d make out a familiar voice—Skylor swearing angrily to her far left. Matilda shouting words in a foreign language followed the blasts and whizzing arounds of her magic being activated. A tom’s grieving wail. The voice she wanted to hear the most was Cole’s, but she couldn’t make him out amid the clamor that shook her to the bones. She hoped that meant he was simply too far away and not because he’d been— A pebble clattered to her right. Gasping, she swung her nunchucks up in time to smack something big and hairy. Something crunched beneath flesh and fur. A heavy weight fell within five feet of where she stood, followed by a groan. Though her arms quivered, adrenaline surged through her body. Her grasp on the nunchucks felt solid and familiar. She wasn’t hiding anymore. Now she could be useful. Now she had a job to do. She spoke, and the combination of euphoria and anger made her voice shake. “Try that again, I dare you.” “My pleasure,” a guttural voice replied. It sounded slurred. She wondered if she’d broken the nekomata’s jaw when she hit him. He coughed, and she could just barely make out the sound of something wet dripping on the ground. Claws scraped against stone. He was getting up. She adjusted her stance and began twirling her nunchucks around—over her shoulder, around her torso, around her knees—with lightning-fast speed. It felt natural to her. They felt like an extension of her arm in a way. The sensation of that deadly handle slinging this way and that was a comforting one. She stood a deep breath. I can do this. I can do this. She stiffened. He was moving to her right in a half-circle. She waited a second for him to take a step closer. When his hot breath touched her shoulder she whipped her hand around and smashed the free handle into his nose. Something else crunched. The nekomata reeled back with a loud groan. “Ugh! You little—!” Liana advanced mercilessly. Bam, bam, whack, bam. Her nunchucks were fast and heavy. At best they left bruises. At worst they broke bones. The nekomata’s growls turned into half-hearted whimpers. At last the big cat fled. She heard his claws scrabbling away. She didn’t pursue him. She teetered in place for a moment, catching her breath.
Oooh, really? It'll be sad when it ends, though, because it's always fun logging in once in a while to read RoE. And if I may ask, how many chapters are in the last episode?
EDIT: Oh, and I just remembered, a little while back, the part with Wolf Paw, I think it was, she used the word 'glorious,' which is currently my adjective of choice for basically everything and I say it obsessively, so I thought that was funny. ^.^
'Eyy, I'm happy to know you still check in every so often.
I have absolutely no idea. I finished writing this over a year ago and-- waaaait... I do believe the next episode ends at Chapter 106. I'm tired, so anyone may do the math from there. :3
Ohh no way!! XD That's perfect, since I'm using that name in your honor.
Idk how I'm only just now seeing this. So it's actually eleven... my bad Naomi !XD
"Wise words by wise men write wise deeds in wise pen." —Lollimon the Wise
Then light blinded her—it happened so fast. Her eyes watered from the shock of it. For a brief second she could see Philip’s face. Half-shaven face, dark curly hair, a broad grin—she didn’t know how she knew who that young man was. She just did, as if she’d always been able to see his face before his death. Then it was gone as soon as it appeared. Darkness once more stole away her vision. Stifling a sob, she staggered backwards—and felt a bony hand on her shoulder. “Ancestors above, I only sent Orange Throat to retrieve you for me,” an all-too familiar voice purred in her ear. “You needn’t have broken his face to pieces, especially with him already being so ugly to begin with.” Panic flooded Liana’s mind. “Not you—!” She started running, but that cold hand snatched her by the collar of her gi and yanked her back. “You’re coming with me, Daughter of No One,” Raven Frost growled. Blood pounded in her ears. She whipped her nunchucks up over her head and to his face. He dodged them, stepped to the right. Another hand snatched her wrist. She shrieked in pain. Claws were digging into an old scratch on her forearm; the Dark Mark. The nunchucks clattered to the ground and she heard Raven Frost kick them away. “Let me—!” His hand of iron clapped over her mouth. Writhing in his arms and and trying to scream, she felt herself being dragged away. The noise began fading away, much to her horror. It was bad enough being stuck at the edge of the battlefield, but at least her friends had been nearby. Now she was alone in one of these wretched tunnels with Raven Frost. It felt colder here, and it didn’t help that Raven Frost’s mere touch sent unpleasant goosebumps running up and down her arms. As everyone’s voices faded away, her heart pounded harder than ever. Again she struggled, squirming and kicking as hard as she could. He had his arms tight around her waist now and released her mouth. As soon as she could gulp in air she screamed loud and long, hoping that someone would hear. The cry earned her the feeling of claws digging into the skin just beneath her clavicle. The pain made her stop, mouth now dry. “Shut up if you know what’s good for you, kitten.” Claws scratched into her cheek. With a pained shriek she jerked back. He shoved her away and she fell on cold stone, skinning her knees. She stifled a quivering sob. His foot came and kicked her in the shoulder. He sounded angry. “How did you resist my Dark Sleep?” “Huh— what?” she murmured dazedly. “No human should be able to do that.” He kicked her again, this time in the stomach. With a groan she rolled over onto her side, back to him. “How did you break those chains? How did you shoot arrows when you’re blind?” She dared not speak now. He would dispose of her, anyway. She wondered how long it would be until Cole or someone else would find her body.
![[lenny]](http://storage2.proboards.com/6672327/images/7elNEqtPK2hcSAiIMFNh.png)
I do believe the next episode ends at Chapter 106. I'm tired, so anyone may do the math from there. :3