[A Secret]Silence in the Mist (Closed)

[Wing]

The larger of the two cats circled her slowly, trying to intimidate her. The smaller was out of the picture, clearly cowed by her presence, and so Wing focused her main attentions on the dominant one. She still kept up the illusion of danger, djed seeping into her features to make her appear more intimidating, but it would not be enough. The larger one must be a leader of some sort, and alpha male. It was trying to intimidate her, but Wing was not going to back down. She was a Zith, and despite her desire for a more refined life, she was still an instinctual creature. A predator, just like the beast before her. She would not be dominated by some land crawling housecat that required the cover of fog to make it an effective hunter. Her body language and her eyes revealed this as Wing allowed herself to slip into her more bestial nature, the side that made the civilized races fear the Zith so much. The cat circled her and she turned with it, watching it's movements. There was no point in trying to run. She had already seen the speed of the creatures and knew they would get to her before she had any hope of lifting off the ground. She had to stand her ground, she had to fight back and show this cat she would not be dominated. If she could at least draw blood, it might be enough. Many predators would back off the moment their prey showed it was capable of fighting back. Wing wasn't entirely certain this predator would be that way, however. Wing began to draw on more djed, formulating a plan in her mind. Maybe she could make the other cat attack it's pack mate. But before she had time to even begin trying to manipulate the weaker one the alpha leapt at her. She reacted with the first idea that popped into her head. A sudden piercing thought drove into the cat's mind. Retract my claws! Wing braced her self for impact and was ready to trying to roll with the cat and possibly pin it beneath her. All this rode on whether or no it actually did retract it's claws. If successful she would do whatever she could to keep the dripping fangs away from her while clawing at whatever part of it's body she could get her hands on. If it didn't retract her claws she would scream out in pain, but otherwise her reaction would be much the same. She would struggle to get on top, all the while trying to avoid the beast's teeth and clawing at whatever she could reach.

[Greth]

Greth flew through the air and landed – not on a petal, but in the net he had always watched, wondering how creatures that fell on them would feel. Now he knew. Coupled up with the claws of some creature going into your flesh, it felt awful. And painful.

The breath was knocked out of him, but adrenaline kept him going. He raised his massive frame up, wincing at the pain the creature had caused him. His eyes widened as he saw the cat-like things coming after him; their speed and agility was frightening. How in the whole of Mizahar was he going to get out of this alive?

He was thinking fast, desperately looking around for the trace of an idea before the creatures got to him. To give himself more time, he was backing away, going dangerously close to the opposite end, gripping one of the trees holding the net for support. As he touched the tree, something occurred to him. It certainly was better than falling hundreds of feet—or who knew how much—to the ground below.

Coiling up for the punch that he knew would make his knuckles hurt for the next month, he drove his fist into the smaller branch near him. It broke his heart to break even a small part of such a strong tree, but it also broke his heart to watch himself die. And maybe, maybe if this worked, he—with the help of others—could drive these creatures back.

But the branch didn't break.

Desperately, he punched the very tip of the branch again and again, faster than he would have thought possible. Then, with a massive effort, he gripped the branch, bent it with all his strength, and broke it.

Looking back at the creatures, he could see them walking unsteadily towards him. He wondered what their purpose was, or where they came from. Did they cause the fog, or took advantage of it? The disturbing image of the Jamoura he had just seen before flashed in his mind, the strange smile on his face the most disturbing of all. Why was he smiling? Or more specifically, why had he been smiling that lucid smile before death? Did these creatures have the power of hypnotism, like that Zith he had met? Maybe the cause was the liquid-like substance he had seen on the teeth of the two that were coming after him? Briefly, he wondered which one he'd prefer: falling to his death, or being eaten, with that far-away smile on his face. At least in the latter case, it would seem he died a happy death.

Meanwhile, he was fishing in his backpack for his flint and steel. If fog was the protector of these creatures, maybe fire would be their enemy. It was a last resort. At least it might help him see those creatures better in the fog. He didn't know if the vines that made up the net would burn, but if he was going to die, he might just try anyway.

Getting out his flint and steel, he hastily striked up a spark, all the while changing his position. Every footstep brought with it a seering pain, and a curse or a groan. The condensation from the fog was making it difficult to light a flame, but he finally did it. He held out the branch towards the approaching creatures, like an alchemist showing off his latest creation to his admirers. Greth was sure that if this was all an alchemist would do, he, as well, might just be helpless before these felines.

[Creeper]

The ebony feline was not caught off guard when the foreign cat attacked at his flank. It was to be expected of their kind, and he had fought off many a competitor. If his opponent wanted to best him, prince of their family, he would have to do much better. The feline rolled over to his left, so as to claw the jumping feline. Usually he was able to rake a section of the belly or hind legs, however, he had not expected to see a person flying at him. His sharpened claws swiped at empty air, as the human landed atop his own exposed stomach. The blasted thing began grabbing at his ears, painfully. The cat managed to get on its side, and began furiously lashing out at anything it could find. The damned human had a hold of his ear! He yowled in pain, only to find another hand on one of his splayed legs. His hind legs were kicking, expecting to scratch up the human's legs, but a bright flash blinded him, and all he felt was a set of teeth wrap around his throat, followed by a sharp jerk. The prince fell limp. The other two cats were now staring at the one that had killed their leader. He had gone many mistfalls without ever being beaten. They would be more cautious. The one feasting let out a warning cry that would call a few of his brothers to their aid. But before the cry could be finished, a gurgle escaped his throat. Tiki would see Greth holding the strangled cat limply in one massive hand, before tossing it out of his bar, into the nets below. Greth turned and pulled Kashal out of hiding, they would need to find others and lead them to safety. He turned to Tiki, giving him a look that said to finish this up and follow him. His claws would be much welcomed for the journey ahead. The remaining cat was in panic. He was the youngest of them, and was now the only survivor. The large hairy ones blocked the way they had come in, and the spot cat blocked the other. He tried to run past Tiki, to find more of his brothers and return to kill this spotted one. He began a cry for others as he darted by the spotted one.

[Tiki]

Tiki snapped and growled at the squirming feline in Greth’s grasp as its life was ended. Only for a moment did he notice the Jamoura’s gesture. The intense vision of the moment, the focus of his eyes and the blending of light and color, it was all so sudden. Tiki experienced the precise opposite feelings the first Jamoura did in their divine transformation. All his sentience began to fade, and the wild side took over. Of all the wonder that magic had brought to kelvics, it could never match the power of the divine. That was the tragedy that befell kelvics, truly. His forward eyes turned in full to the youth who, in his panicked state, was making a judgment call of his own. Tiki knew that look, that sense of entrapment and impending death. He had witnessed that look in many a prey, even in his youth. He saw it now, the slow motion view the invader would perceive: the giant shadow would overcome him and it would be dark, forever. Tiki’s over state was entirely blocked out by the fuel of adrenaline and blood lust. Wounded leg? No problem. The youth darted across, and Tiki quickly pursued him. It tried to juke the larger cat and even the jamoura with little success. The trap was set, Tiki could sense it now. Tiki latched onto the hind hide of the little one who then yelped in great pain. The jamoura were witnesses to it all. Tiki was clawing at the legs with little success, wanting to bite the back of the smaller feline. The youth was on his own back though and kicked away and threatened Tiki’s snout with a bite or swipe of his own. Tiki was growling fiercely with some tone caught between cub and leopard while the younger whined. It was quick on its feet and eluded the initial strike. It fled around the room and quickly back toward the bar from them both, desperate for escape. Tiki kept on. This was his home. They were fairly out of sight from the line of sight of the jamoura, and the morning light that pierced the canopy and mist this far in. The youth was met by a dead end behind the bar, and Tiki was upon him. It was probably best Greth and Kashal couldn’t see. *** Tiki was well on top of the smaller cat in the midst of the fight. The little bugger had a lot of fight left in him though. He had come in prepared for a meal, after all. The animality of a kelvic was just as insincere as the animals of the wild. That was the truth of life, and it works its way in every moment out there as it did right now. Thus two animals went at it. Tiki was sitting on the little one as his paws became claws, digits spread wide with razors of his own ready to rend flesh. Tiki raked the young one across the face, check, and forelimbs. The younger was swiping at him the whole time as well leaving marks too. The sadism of Tiki’s sentience gave way and took advantage of the feline’s limited mental capacity for strategizing in a fight without his pack. After another strike, Tiki was digging his claws into the side flank of the invader and propelling himself up. His hind legs were just sliding across the mist soaked coat of the cat. He had taken the cat’s backside and was ready to finish it. The youth’s agility was known though, and he wouldn’t die either, he didn’t want to. The smaller mass of blackness turned over on his back, Tiki’s claws pulling the skin apart and off his body as fresh red steams began to flow. Tiki’s occupied claws left him vulnerable. The youth latched onto TIki’s neck and face and went to bite him. Tiki recoiled quickly and started for the youth’s throat and chest. Both had been making their own remarks the entire time, since the moment Tiki’s frenzy began. The venomous fangs lunged forward to latch onto Tiki’s neck and end him. If this was to be the end of either of them, Tiki would be left to die a longer death, a burning one from the inside out. The teeth touched Tiki’s fur and soon slipped down toward the larger cat’s upper arm. Tiki had managed his paws in-between the smaller cat’s front limbs, pushing away this hostile’s claws like logs at best. Tiki had found the throat and latched on. Tiki’s jaw pulsed, biting and biting, each strike deeper until he would hit the fatal nerve or artery, if not just break its neck or rip the throat out entirely. He was in the sweet spot, that delicate flesh surrounded only by the fine muscles. In his humor form, he believed it; he noted how the neck protruded outward. It was so perfect for this purpose, to dig in and rip out or crush with all the force of his jaws. The younger’s fangs barely pierced the skin and muscle in TIki’s right limb. The venom was flowing though. It had always been flowing and dripping with promise of agony. Some of it was bound to slip into these wounds: two teeth marks only slightly deeper than any of the slashes that scattered Tiki’s body from his blood quarrel with this one. Tiki’s teeth were touching together, even with the cat’s throat clamped in his jaw. His low growling persisted in his moment. He released his clasp and looked back at the defeated foe. He listened intently to its final sound, his focus on those milky white eyes…soulless eyes. Just under that layer, he could see it, just so vaguely, as the eyes darkened from the center outward – the pupil dilations. It was quiet then. *** The whole while Tiki was behind that counter with the last of the trio, Greth and Kashal heard the brevity of the exhausting battle. From the moment Tiki had pinned this other cat, the room echoed violent cries for help. Their own sounds were met by the dissonance of thumps against the wood and falling thuds of the surrounding objects. The sound was maddening. Between Tiki and the cat, the sounds were a blur as to who made what. From the lowly growls to the high pitched whines, it was evident that they were suffering. As Tiki had been raking this creature, and finally closing in for a kill, it was the worst. It was just like a kitten, its high pitch squealing helplessly as knife-like figures cut deep into its body. It was like tossing a baby into a fire and listening to its cries as it burned. That was what this fight was. The lunacy of the strife quickly died out as Tiki finished the invader off, and the chaotic noises faded into the low growl of the dying child. Tiki rose from the silence, very tired and pained, but very willing to live. The sounds he made were indecisive of who had won. He crept out from behind the bar, his jaws, his claws, his every wound bleeding trickles and torrents alike. To some relief, his maw and paws were stained the most. He kept to the far end of the room at first, just starting to realize what had happened. Words, thoughts, feelings, nothing could properly describe or explain what Tiki felt. He…he was alive. His pupils began to narrow as he came out into the light and closer to Greth and Kashal. His eyes were full of sadness and hurt. He looked at Kashal, confirming her safety. Then he turned to Greth and awaited his command. It might not have been wise to leave Greth’s little fort, but he knew Spires much better than Tiki. Furthermore, Tiki had blood on his palms, royal blood.

[Creeper]

Grath watched the battle of the ebony cats, grateful that one was on his side. The yowling and screeching was deafening, gut wrenching. Grath needed to form a plan, to get as many people as he could to safety. They were in the Outer Petals, and like many of his kind, they would always try to flock to one area. The Temple to Caiyha in the center of the city. But they had a lot of dangerous ground to cover to get there. He wrenched up a slab of wood, and handed it to Kashal, to use as a shield from the predators. His eyes returned to Tiki who just finished off the last of the cats. The native feline was injured, and Grath hoped that he wasn't afflicted by too much of that strange venom. He'd seen what it had done to his brothers, them not fighting, returning to Caiyha with a strange smile on their faces. They were perhaps one of the furthest locations from the temple, being at the back end of an Outer Petal. The first obstacle was the vine bridge that connected his tavern to the petal proper. The mist was so thick, they could only see a few feet up the bridge. Grath suggested Tiki go first, with Kashal in the middle, so that they could protect her. They would be able to hear cat screeches from all over the city, as well as the occasional yell of another victim. As Tiki would cross the bridge, it would only sag slightly. But when Kashal and Grath followed, it would sag a good bit more, slight creaks and groans escaping. Something wouldn't feel right about the bridge, especially for those who crossed it often. At about halfway across, a light breeze would blow aside the mist briefly at the end of the bridge they sought. Tiki would see three of the cats feasting on a body, not having noticed them yet. Tiki knew that there was another bridge from the tavern to another section of the Petal. But then Kashal saw the situation ahead, and a short gasp escaped her. A gasp that didn't go unnoticed by the Miststalkers. They turned, and one let loose a screech, to attract help with the escape party. The three cats started down the bridge, slowly, one by one. Just before the lead stepped into attacking distance of Tiki, a loud SNAP! filled the air, and all occupants' stomachs would sink as the weightlessness took them over.

[Tiki]

Greth and Tiki had the same thought in mind. Kashal was the priority, even though he, decades younger, was much more vulnerable and immature. He truly proved himself to go beyond his years in this trying time. It was almost exemplary if not for the fact that it was by his very design, the very intent of the goddess Caiyha, that he acted as he did. Even now, his prowling steps, the silent pad and sharp eyes that darted through the mist to find them, her masterpieces were at work. Was he not perfect? In all that she stood for, that was. Tiki embodied a sleek beauty that stood out even against the floral collage of the Talderan wilderness, which even then had potential to be the fiercest predator. His swift agility and powerful clench transferred into his every fiber of his body. The last fight would remain a testament of such a point, proof of his superior design. Marcus Kelvic’s gift to him, generations ago, was the last touch, the glimmering coat of polish over him that truly made him shine. A paragon of nature which could also appreciate his own ability as well as that of the world around him, that was Tiki, and most kelvics like him. He wasn’t sure about the bridge. He wasn’t sure about moving from the Rest at all really. Greth knew best though. Spires was more his home than Tiki’s. Besides, it wasn’t like they had much of a choice. They could be pounced upon at any moment, and Tiki struggled even with the scrawniest of the previous pack. They had to push forward. He only thought a moment back to the Rest. His things were safe there; these weren’t bandits. It would be there, waiting for him, if he lived through this. He knew where they were going. It was clear as they took the most direct path. They could have taken the more obscure paths otherwise to even escape the mist. Escape, funny thoughts Tiki… the mist was boundless as far as they knew. Hopefully the temple would offer the safe haven they sought. He had longed to see it since he first arrived and heard of it. He didn’t want it to be like this, although it provided some hope to the group. In his time at Spires, Tiki had crossed the particular bridge a few times. He never liked it; it was shaky. He was fine until the jamoura piled on too. He looked quickly back at them. Greth gave him a humorous smirk. It was lightening, but they did need to be careful. The bridge would hold. Each creek was a question as to how long it would hold though… Tiki caught sight of their images against the mist, the Miststalkers. He was ready to slow and stop before Kashal broke the silence. They had been lucky the creaking from the bridge didn’t alert the Miststalkers before. They weren’t hard of hearing, were they? No time to think of that, they were coming. Tiki tried listening for someone to call to them to help. The jamoura in hiding probably kept silent for their own good. Tiki couldn’t stand it though. Maybe he could fend them off by intimidating them, just maybe. The bridge snapped before he could consider anything. His claws dug in vain at the wood before he realized he could have thumbs. Glorious thumbs! Tiki shifted back and grabbed hold of the vine clusters, the more the better. He just held on tight while gravity was at work. Strangely enough he tried to keep an eye on the Miststalkers. This wasn’t the time to black out.

[Creeper]

The bridge swung down, the two Jamoura and the Kelvic all in tow. Thankfully the bridge was connected out away from the tree, and the trio didn't crash into the trunk. The bridge swung back in forth over empty air until it came to a full stop. The three predators had fallen, and not into the nets below. For those nets were swinging lightly, as if they had simultaneously disconnected with the bridge. The cats fell so far through the hidden foliage, and out of Tiki's vision, a sign of what was to come if they couldn't make the climb up the dangling bridge-turned-ladder. Tiki would feel a tickle on his hand and see a procession of large, winged ants, heading up the vines. Tiki would remember that these particular ants had a taste for Slugsuckle vines, a lesson learned from a forgotten source. The two Jamoura easily made it up the bridge, and if Tiki wasn't able to climb up, he'd find the bridge being pulled up by the two above. "Come, we need to get to the temple." Grath would lead down the second bridge, with Kashal following, down the bridge that led to another of the Outer Petals. The bridge was much more stable this time around, and the crossing was silent, Kashal keeping her mouth covered. The Petal they landed upon was deserted, completely. Grath would begin searching for any other survivors, but found none. This Petal was home to a shrine to Kihala. The alter was tipped over, covered in claw slashes. A sense of foreboding was thick in the air, not helped in any way by the piercing scream that filled the air. It was definitely feline, but was way across the way, a sign of another kill. Grath whispered softly, "We should go straight toward the Temple, shortest path." But Kashal disagreed, "No, we need to continue going about the outside until we find more survivors, those cats are going the be swarming all over the Inner Petals." Tiki would feel the need to make the decision, and the Jamoura would certainly fall in line with him. His ears would detect silence across the way at the next Outer Petal, while he could hear a single, chirping songbird from the Inner. The bird wasn't frantic, but certainly nervous. His other senses weren't of any help, and his intuition wasn't speaking up. Inner or Outer?

[Tiki]

Tiki grabbed hold of the vine with all his might, and still felt himself slipping a few gentle inches down the vine from the force. His eyes were fixed on the Miststalkers who fell. He knew he couldn’t even fall that far. As the vine bridge slowed from its swinging, the drawn out oscillation of its length, Tiki started up the bridge, challenged with the climb. On his way up, Tiki saw the ants which crawled over the vine and his hands. He hadn’t the time or strength to spare pity on their little bodies in his climb. Part of him thought if they might have actually chewed through the vine. Tiki was a climber, just not to this degree. Sloped trees, thick bark, rocks and the sorts, all provided more ideal ground to scale on all fours. The movement of his body, the moving energy, it all kept him moving up and up. This… now this was some different sort of climbing. Not only was he faced with a vertical ascension, but he wasn’t so used to just using his arms. Cats pounce with their hind legs, and grab hold of prey with the front. He was very slow and sure of his grip. The ants were incredible pests in such a climb. He had half this length to go yet, and then they started biting. The ants smelled the pheromone over his hands and soon arms. He gritted his teeth. His knees and legs were intertwined with the loose vine below. His climb was sluggish, gripping up with one hand, then the other, then a leg and leg together pulling together with his abdominal strength and biceps. He felt a terrible burning and biting in his arms especially. The ripped flesh was growing wearily, and threatened his grip that he might slip and be caught hanging in the vine at the mercy of the ants. He made it, he wasn’t sure but he did make it to the top of the vine, the edge of the bridge. The pumping adrenaline, the drive to live - that feral part of him that demanded survival and assertion - it saved him. The ants were on him, some flying up and biting his neck and swarming his face. He lacked the fur coat that kept the ants from the jamouras’ skins. He was exhausted at the top, and would need to take his time in moving on after this. Could it be the Miststalker venom, or had he been pushing his limits more than he intended? Tiki’s exhaustion was legendary to in retrospect. Never had he felt like this. His arms were starting to wiggle as he forced and pulled without the bodily energy to finish the task. He called out for help, within reach of either Jamoura, and gave into some selfish pride that had no place in the moment. He had earned it though, this favor, in having fended off the Miststalkers in the Rest. He’d never know it if Grath didn’t tell him. Pulled up with ease, he felt his light body being lifted into the air by a force unexplainable in comparison to his own strength. He felt his weight return to his own body, and fell to the top of the Petal. He was on all fours, still a human, bowing his head. The weariness radiated from his body. The tension of his muscles pressed through his skin in the bulges of his muscular build. The tendons in his feet were stretched tight with his toes on the Petal top which provided no more of a push than his own legs. His arms were shaking to keep himself up and even then his head hung by the loose muscle of his neck. His whole jaw was slack and his mind in a daze as he stared into the wood that appeared so fuzzy, even so close. He wouldn’t be able to shift forms for a while yet. Even if he could, he wouldn’t be able to walk on all fours. He just…he felt it, the exhaustion reaching deeper than the muscles under his skin, that acidic burning that tempted him to lay down and rest. They didn’t have time to rest though. In all his numbness, his mind still functioned vaguely. He heard Grath and Kashal speaking, the sound of a distant echo in his ears filled him with the knowledge of their position in The Spires, their options, and their destination. He brought his left leg in, knee to his chest, and slowly pushed himself up. Any moment he appeared to falter Kashal or Grath was at his side supporting him. There was an unspeakable sense of security he’d longed for in their motions as they made sure the child didn’t fall and bump his head. He heeded Grath’s words and followed behind Kashal with a semi-absent mind. His vision was not so blurred, but he failed to focus. The sounds guided him and informed him of all that was going on. His lips were loose on his face to let ht air rush through to his lungs. His whole body was throbbing with the burning, but only the claw marks that stung in their exposed state drew away from Tiki’s attention. Their arrival at the next Petal was welcomed. The bridges made him tense now. In observance of it all, his eyes were fixed on the shrine in wonder. Even in this moment his curiosity got to him. He took in the sounds, their points in the thought of where to go, but he was still so taken back by the sight before him. The focus he retained now was pathetic. Tiki looked on the shrine and dared to wonder what would desecrate the shrine of the divines. What were these creatures that they had the sense to even do so? He squinted to get a better look, but still only at the very center of his vision could he really focus, and the rest was a blur. Part of Tiki gave into resting, and he stopped. His shoulders slouched forward and his back curled ever so lightly. He was stalling, but stalling was good right now. His strength was returning to him slowly. He could use a drink. He sat down a moment while they pleaded their cases, taking in the moment. Tiki was distracted. He tried to think of which deity was worshipped here. “Whose shrine is this?” In all his time at Spires, he had only heard or glanced at the shrines, admiring their appearance. His learning wasn’t always so deep. The apparent situation changed matters a bit. it was a crime, he thought, to disrespect a deity in such a way. He knew nothing about the divine worshiped here though, and had no reason as to why the Miststalkers were spared, ignorant to the details of Caiyha’s domain. “Whose shrine is this,” Tiki asked at random. Grath and Kashal both sighed with disappointment thinking their tie-breaker would have been more focused on the life threatening events present. Grath grunted a sigh and seemed to be formulating a new plan when Kashal answered him the best she could. “This is the Shrine of Kihala, Goddess of Life. She breaths the air into us that we live each day till Dira, death, takes us. This is shameful.” Kashal was quiet, but even then Tiki sensed the withdrawal of her tone in that last bit of it all. These cats were evil. Tiki encoded Kashal’s words. Kihala, Goddess of Life, who breathed life into all that lived, even these cats. And there was Caiyha, Goddess of plant and animal alike, flora and fauna, who the Jamoura worshipped. In combination with Dira, death, their cycle came full circle, three counter balances in a system of equalizers that kept the world in motion. Dira took away the dead, dead taken away in Caiyha’s grand order of life and death, only to be replenished as life was given to new life through Kihala to sing and dance through the… Tiki turned toward the Inner Petals, and the Jamoura followed suit in a state of worry. No Miststalkers were prowling that he could tell, but he heard something, the deciding factor. In the wilds, even outside of Spires when he was first on the trail coming here, he remembered the lesson learned long ago. He heard the bird. The silence of the Outer Petals concerned him more than the songbird from within the city. They might stand a better chance; they might be safer in a place where the bird would show itself so freely. The Miststalkers were as much as threat to the song bird as to the Jamoura and Tiki, and still it sang. It was a rash decision based on experience from hunting. His hunts didn’t compare to the nature of this attack, but it was still the natural order of things. It was a glimmer of home in the death filled silence where no breath was breathed. “The bird… We need to go to the Inner Petals.” Kashal and Grath shared the look only a couple of their years would understand. To the Inner Inner Petals they’d go… Tiki had almost forgotten their destination. The Temple of Caiyha…

[Creeper]

Kashal was not pleased by the cat's decision. Something just didn't feel right about taking the most direct path. But she would stand by her husband and his decision, to whatever end. They let Tiki lead across the bridge, Kashal once more in the middle, with Grath bringing up the rear. The continued to hear the single song bird singing, a comfort in these devastating times. As Tiki crossed the bridge, he could see a glimpse through the fog, a Zith fighting a massive Miststalker. It was too far for Tiki to be of any help, but Caiyha help that winged woman, that Miststalker was twice the size of Tiki's cat form. Upon reaching the Inner Petal, Tiki would remember that this was the Government Petal. A child Jamoura's cry was heard off to their right, and Kashal's heartstrings were tugged. She had never been able to conceive a child, despite several years of trying. She stopped, "We have to help them, Bright Minds is over there... Grath, the children." Grath's face grew long and solemn, he knew there would be no talking her down from this, and he wouldn't want to leave them behind. A snarl, followed by another child's cry, rushed them toward the child care center. The chirping of the bird was still heard, and the sound appeared to be just ahead of them, leading them. The fog would break, and Tiki would see a small low building on the platform, with two female Miststalkers outside the open door, snarling and hissing upwards. In the small branches of the tree above, there were at least four children in various states of terror, three Jamoura, and one that appeared to be human. There was a half eaten Jamoura adult just outside the door, the caretaker of these children Grath assumed, for the face was unrecognizable in the mauled condition. The cats could have easily entered the building, scaled the tree, and devoured the youngsters, but a single obstacle stopped them. A single shaft of light managed to breach the canopy and the fog and enveloped the entire entryway, and the cats refused to enter it. Grath put himself between them and Kashal and looked down at Tiki, knowing what they needed to do. Grath silently moved toward the one to the right of the door, getting ready to pounce. For once, stealth appeared to be on their side. He looked back at Tiki, knowing that timing was crucial. Grath was seen by one of the Jamoura children, and in their surprise, they fell from the tree, squawking in surprise, off the side of the Petal, and toward the nets below. One of the ebony cats ran to the edge and peered over, the other still keeping the rest treed. Grath hesitated, unsure now, waiting on Tiki's actions.

[Tiki]

Tiki’s feline eyes were wide with focus. The miststalker upon the zith was something incredible. He tried to understand how these things were hunting. It they grew that large, it was a surprise Spires was inhabited at all. The power of Caiyha’s shrine must be incredible, to be a sanctuary even against forces like this. They had to go forward. Recollection of the city’s layout told him a few things. For one, they were closer now to the shrine. Crossing the remainder of the petal could prove an issue though. The miststalkers were everywhere. Kashal confirmed his later suspicion. He was on the move before she could finish. For all that the jamoura had done for him; no selfish thought entered his mind at this time. He had already bled for the jamoura, as their Hahk’Shatar had bled for him. It was sorrowful that it took events like this to reveal the depth of Tiki’s heart. Grath really had halted Tiki before he attacked. Only then did he observe the barrier. Syna’s light shown through and kept the miststalkers from their advance. Were they blind? Tiki didn’t understand it, and although a curious and generally insightful kelvic, he didn’t have time to care. Grath chose for him. The little one fell, and Grath froze. Tiki was already on it. It was a wonderful distraction. He had to sneak up or run for this one. There was no waiting. They needed to die so the young could live. Or did they? Tiki could have found out in this moment what the sun light did to these creatures, but the thought didn’t cross his mind. A human mind, perhaps, would see it as an advantage and bend the light to his whim, but not Tiki. He was, as of this moments, a predator on the hunt. His moves were calm, and quiet. An upcoming stalker of his own breed, you might even say. He was low to the petal surface. Tiki brought each paw in, under his body and placed it back in front of him as he crept closer to the edge and that hellish cat. Grath, in all his mass, had started his own prowl ward the other. Kashal was bewildered by the young ones. She tried to comfort them and quiet them from afar. Tiki saw the image of the miststalker before him grow larger with each step. He was ready. He would lunge and make it quick, no funny business. There wasn’t time or energy for any more fights like they had done before. He was given away, but by what?! He was quiet in his entire prowl. The other one, it saw him! Damn, the light wasn’t as wide as he had thought. The prey he stalked became his opponent as it began turning. Tiki ran the short distance that was left and latched on the back of the stalker with iron strength. His claws dug deep into shoulders of the snarling stalker, and he was aimlessly biting for the head of the animal. The vicious cat flung itself around on its side and sprawled around trying to get Tiki away from it. Tiki snatched the cat on the ear by the skull and took a bite out of it. The cat whined and began to spazz out all over the petal. The cats rolled over each other and went over the petal edge… The other cat had begun its own slow stalking back for Tiki in the meanwhile. Grath’s eyes widened as well, thinking of what would happen should Tiki be undone, and the jamoura left to go on without him. In a comical fit, he strode large, quiet steps toward the cat, nearly missing it before he snatched it at the tail. The miststalker curled back around and latched onto the jamoura’s titanic arm biting and scratching. Grath, in all his patience, would have none of it. The jamoura reached up into the air with the cat and slammed the petal. The low groaning of the cat was all that was emitted from the feline then. Grath smashed the cat back and forth by its tail some more though, for good measure, before he brought both fists down on the underbelly of the lithe creature. Blood shot out both ends. He peered up and saw Tiki go over. He told Kashal to get inside, to the children, at once. She was all but relieved to oblige, to be of help. Grath ran over to the edge and this is what he saw: The cats had gone over and separated in the air. Some time in their free fall, Tiki landed back in a net, and the other one in a net below. The young jamoura was between Tiki and Grath, far from the reach of either jamoura. Tiki was trying to find himself in the net, and the miststalker was already climbing back up to kill Tiki. The jamoura child screamed profusely in terror. Kashal had already reached the children and brought them to safer heights. Grath feared to leave Kashal for the stalkers were in abundance this time. Tiki saw it in his eyes, the confliction. Tiki morphed back into a human form and gathered himself. It would take the remained of his strength to get that child to safety. He was up on his feet, staring back at the miststalker that curse him below. It was moving, quickly, and would be in this net soon enough. Tiki gently shimmied over to the branch and looked up at the next net. He judged the distance between him and the child, as well as the strength of his legs. His hind legs were still very strong and ready. He only worried of his grip. He lowered his body, swung his arms a bit, and pounced upward in a swift motion. Grath called to the child to help him, to help Tiki at once. Others might be coming. The child reached out and feebly grabbed Tiki’s fingers to help pull him up. Tiki’s face was red and gritted in frustration and strain to just pull his own weight up. With his hands in the net, he could work his chest and pull himself up a little at a time, and then over the net. He wanted to stop and breathe. His lungs were already burning, his chest pounding to get the oxygen to his body, not to mention blood loss. Some flux magic would have come in handy. His djed was untapped to this day. Tiki needed to get the child to Grath though. The child was deceptively heavy for Tiki’s weakened arms, but he did what he could to comfort the little thing. “You’ll be okay. Climb up.” The little jamoura climbed Tiki until it was at his shoulder. It wasn’t enough and Tiki could hardly move on the net, let alone jump. He ordered the child up his head, and Gray was reaching down to the child. “Jump!” Tiki ordered and the child did after some hesitation. Grath sent the child back to Kashal. He returned to Tiki as he could. “It is your turn to jump. Come.” Tiki saw the cat already on the net below. It jumped up for Tiki in this net and caught hold with its claws. The cat would be up soon enough. Tiki moved to the branch of this net and readied himself. Grath and Tiki looked to each other in understanding. Again, the kelvic pumped his legs and reached up for Grath. His arms were too weak to pull himself, but the jamoura had a sure grip. He pulled Tiki over and back away from the ledge. Grath looked back over for the cat. It was still dangling from the underside of a net. “To Kashal, Tiki. Tanroa is not on our side as Syna is.” Tiki heeded Grath’s words, but not soon enough. The cat had crawled up the bark and latched into his leg. It was coming for blood. Tiki gave the cat a swift kick to the face, and another. A chomp of air was taken and the hollow bite echoed back to Grath. The jamoura took the measly stalker in his hand and squeezed it. Tiki was overcome with confusion again, how strong the jamoura were and how little they acted. Kashal herself could probably crush these cats. He was glad he was their friends. He was glad the jamoura were his allies. The remains of the cat were tossed far over the petal where the nets did not reach. Grath helped Tiki to his feet and into the light with Kashal and the others. “Did you see the light?” “Yes, and thank you, Tiki… I am sorry you should know the Spires this way.” Tiki flashed a smile to Grath. He meant it for all it was worth. Tiki looked back out at the light, thinking about something. He overheard Kashal and Grath speak. The children were safe and relatively unharmed. Tiki held no envy. He was relieved to hear of their safety. He looked at his own bloody condition. His every limb was carved up by the fighting. He knew not if venom now pumped through him, and what cumulative effect it could have. His arms were shaking excessively. They had gone beyond the point of being drained and sore. Tiki had pushed himself. Grath came to Tiki and spoke in a calm, quiet voice, “We need to move.” Tiki looked at Grath and replied, “I need to rest. I can’t help like this. I need to rest… I…” He needed something to restore his strength or mend his wounds. Time, he would need sufficient time to regain his full strength. If he had such, he’d plow through whatever miststalker kept them from the temple. Nothing would harm Kashal or the children. They had precious cargo, and Tiki wouldn’t risk it. Call it paternal instincts, perhaps. He’d have made Oriana proud if not for his pain. Tiki gestured with his head to the light, and spoke again, “They don’t go in it. Just until the light passes…” “We don’t know how many there are, or if they will come. We could be trapped in here. They could just wait for it to pass!” “Grath, your voice. Hush, shh, shh… Come here, children. It’s okay. Grath,” she nodded to the little one Grath lifted from Tiki’s arms, to be comforted, and continued, “We cannot move without him. We can’t leave him behind either. Caiyha’s Temple is so close. Maybe the Hahk’Shatara will come…” “I just need a few minutes. We won’t even wait for the light to pass, I just need a few minutes. I need a drink, or something to eat. I’m so tired. I…I’ve never felt this.” There was desperation in his voice. Even now Tiki resisted the natural order of the relationship between miststalker and jamoura. The excessive shifting had drained Tiki more than any physical stress he had endured. Each form had its weaknesses, and although the combination provided greater capabilities, it drained him. “They must keep something here, Grath. We can’t go on without him. Oh, shh, shhh…” Kashal rocked a child in each arm with another on her back. Her motherly touch reached out to even Tiki. He saw the look in her eyes, fear and insecurity. She knew though that they wouldn’t get far without him. Tiki considered the exact opposite. Had he been anywhere else in the city, he’d be no more. If they were to leave him, and make it to the Temple, where would Tiki be? Tiki’s mind and sight wandered around in search of the mammoth of a miststalker that fought with the zith before. He could see close to nothing in the fog. It made him feel ill. He thought of the branches and opening of the building too. The miststalkers were agile climbers…if they slipped in, or already had. Tiki looked around for Grath scared for him. Grath caught sight of him and gave him a strange look. Tiki swallowed hard and went back to guarding the front door. Grath carefully looked around. When they were alone, Kashal, Tiki and the children, Tiki said something that just…came to mind. He didn’t mean to instill any more fear, but he just spoke what he felt. “Kashal, I don’t want to die.” He turned back to her, his eyes full of the same worry he showed Grath. Kashal frowned and furrowed her brows. She tried to smile for him, but seemed just as concerned. She moved to speak, and Tiki perked up to hear her, but she seemed at a loss of words. Tiki’s breathing elevated. Kashal set the children aside, together where she sat with them and moved to Tiki. “Dira teaches us that all things must die for there to be life, Tiki. If it is our time, then we must go. We can fight it, but sometime it’s not enough. Those times are our times. So long as you keep fighting, you will not die.” Kashal made a strange face again, trying to find the right words for Tiki to understand. Tiki fought back tears in a futile effort. He was very much afraid. “Tiki, you poor thing,” Kashal continued, “oh you poor thing, thank you. Thank you so much for being here.” Kashal’s voice started to crack in her sweet sensitive tone. She was strong for them all where others could not be. Grath and her had been through years together, and were the adults to look up to here. She comforted Tiki what she could. “Rest, Tiki. Caiyha has been good to us through the ages. A life as young as yours does not end here. It…it’s unlikely, I mean to say.” Tiki had it figured. As much as she had wanted to say he couldn’t die so young, he – an avid hunter – knew well the truth of life’s natural process and design. Death truly comes to them all. It was a miracle they had saved the children, let alone made it this far. His life, any of the children’s, or the elder jamoura, could be over in an instant. Tiki wasn’t sobbing, but he felt his eyes swell and the tears run down his face as he thought more of Dira taking him from the beautiful world. There was so much left to be done, so much to experience and live through. What he did not express, the human child exhibited in full. Full out bawling was another difficulty Kashal tried to overcome with the children. The jamoura children were a bit more reserved in their behavior. Grath was still in search, or perhaps had found something that could be of use…or not. Many unpredictable events have unfolded thus far. What was one more?