Hope: The Greatest Evil (Nya and Abashai)

[Gillar]

The 21st Day of Spring in the Year 511 AV Spring had finally wrapped its renewing arms around the land, even in a region known for being the antithesis of joyous rebirth; a dark place housing the City of Ravok. In the forests and hills surrounding Lake Ravok, the large inland that locked the city away from the rest of the world, the signs of Spring were clear. It was early morning and a light mist hung in the air while plants sprouted new buds and animals of all kinds and all ages were more plentiful. The sun had just risen but was still low in they sky. The sound of morning birds echoed from tree to tree as did that of running water from a nearby stream. Though a short few miles from Ravok, one could not ask for a better place to rest and grab a bit of relaxation before the day got underway in full. It was here that Nya and Abashai found seclusion to spend the previous night; at the edge of a short cliff overlooking a small pool fed by a nearby stream. With the pool below them, the forest stretched on behind them. They had left any signs of even modestly traveled paths a couple of days ago and had encountered no other humanoid presence since. Though their travels had carried them some distance north of Syliras, they were unfamiliar with exactly where they were due to the lack of any familiar landmarks. Abashai in particular awoke that morning with the strange feeling that someone or something was watching him. His pack also looked to have been rifled through at some point during the night though nothing in particular was missing save for the small figurine of an odd looking, big-eyed monkey. ---------------------------------------------------- That same morning brought the first rays of sunlight shining down on Almaras' sleeping form. The brightness annoyed him even through closed eyelids as he grumbled softly to himself. The night had been long and his sleep was short; his dreams more than a little disturbing. Reluctantly, Almaras sat up and gathered his gear. Although devoted to accomplishing the task assigned to him, he did not care much for travel in the wilderness. After gathering his gear, Almaras slung his cloak; embroidered with the symbol of the Ebonstryfe, over his shoulders and set to preparing the rest of his unit to move out.

[Nya Winters]

She was already awake when he woke, though she showed no signs of being worried. Even though Abashai's pack looked rifled through, the scents overlaying their little encampment were theirs and theirs alone. In Nya's mind, this garnered nothing to worry about. The Kelvic was crouched before the crystalline pool lapping water, and though Shai could not see what it was that amused her, a quick concentration told him that her tongue was shattering a perfect reflection of herself in the water - making it ripple - in a way that only a child would perhaps be mesmerized by. She paused, let the reflection right itself, and started drinking again, laughter boiling up out of her. Nya was in a good mood, partially because they had hunted well the night before, and partially because they were heading north to see her mother and father at Lormar Tower.

The only problem was that they couldn't seem to find it.

Nya wasn't worried. Her thoughts were stubborn, overlaid with the confidence that it was there somewhere and all she had to do was run across the scents of her mother and father eventually and that would lead them directly too it. She was smart, emboldened, but Shai was quickly realizing that Nya moved through the world traveling by instinct. Map reading was not her forte nor indeed was following landmarks. She had completely relied on the fact that she'd be able to pick up the familiar scents of home the closer they got and that then would lead them to her family's abode.

But he was certain they'd already crossed the boarder from Syliras into Taldera and from what Nya had told him, the Tower was on the boarder itself. There were no roads here, no landmarks, and certainly no sign that let them know how far they'd traveled and how far they'd overshort - if indeed they had. Nya was confident they hadn't - afterall she grew up at Lormar and knew when she saw the familiar she'd know it.

But Abashai knew there was magic in the world and sometimes once things were left behind it wasn't always easy to return to them. No matter how big, strong, or confident you were.

His bondmate and wife suddenly pounced, splashing into the pool. He could have predicted it, truth be told, for unlike other cats, forest cats loved the water. Nya happily splashed in, rolled about, shifted and began to swim. Her human form had changed since he met her, filling out and strengthening from the first moment they met. Had he somehow been able to stand the girl next to the woman, the differences would have been shocking. The young creature he had bonded with had been a sleek orchid still wrapped tight in bud only promising an exotic bloom. This version, this woman, had grown out of her feralness and into a new body that had matured around her. Muscles had hardened, the slight softeness of youth had sleeked out, breasts had rounded, hips had lost their boyishness and curved. Scarred flesh had grown even more scarred. But the physical changes were nothing compared to the mental ones.

He could hear her thoughts, as clearly as if they stood as one. She was in him as much as he was within him. And he was within her as much as she dwelled in her own home turf. Nya knew what it was to be a man just as much as Abashai knew what it was to be a kelvic. And strangely, they were both stronger for it, closer, and housed no secrets from each other. And if he new how good warm hot blood and flesh still barely pulsing with life was to swallow to stave off hunter he spoke not at all but perhaps ate his meat all the more rarer for it. And if Nya knew what the meaning of honor and stoicism was, she simply held back more when she would not have before and knew indeed that her words mattered and reflected the character of her heart within.

Her mind touched his briefly as she swam, curious if he was awake. Finding that he was, but not fully, she did not try to lure him into the water with her for intimacy. They'd had that last night - a long slow coupling that had taken hours both in and out of the water. Now though, her thirst quenched and her body clean, Nya wanted some food - jerky and fruit - from their packs. She waded out of the water and went to here the packsaddle lay stowed and pulled for a towel and a clean set of clothing to slowly dress.

After she split jerky with Shai and new slightly bitter apples that would have better served having been left on the tree longer. But it had been a long winter, and Nya had missed apples, so she ate them anyhow, knowing better was coming with time and patience.

"Maybe today we will find it. We have come a great distance north. It should have been easier for me to find. I wonder now if you are not right, Abashai, if we have not passed it." She sprawled at his feet then, giving him a chance to wake up and do all his morning chores. Nya hoped he'd shave. She liked watching him trim his beard and smooth a knife over his skin. But if he did not, she'd settle for watching him eat, or play a bit of his Od before they started their day. It was still early, even though the sun was up and the day held a promise of sunshine which made Nya smile after all chilled days of winter behind them.

[Abashai]

His awakening was slow and leisurely. The sound of unfamiliar songbirds and the soft splashing of water stirred the man from his slumber. Abashai had slept soundly, more so than most previous nights. But then again, nothing seemed to relax him more than spending time in Nya's arms. Intimacy with the kelvic was physically exerting, and over the seasons Shai had built his stamina, now able to enjoy the prolonged sessions with his feline mate. Once they had finished, every muscle in his body unwound, endorphins flooded his system and his entire body was at peace. The Benshiran stretched, feeding his tired muscles blood and preparing them for another day of travel. Abashai had concerns that they were off course, if there was a course at all. All they had relied on was Nya's memory and the hope of picking up her parents trail, or some familiar landmark. None of those things had yet to surface. The desert man knew nothing of the geography of Mizahar beyond the slopes of the Cobalt Mountains, so served of little assistance in locating Lormar Tower. Though he had learned to trust Nya's instincts, it had taken some time to let go of his need for logic and follow what the forest cat felt in her gut and her senses. The Benshiran had trusted that his mate could find her way home, though he had considered stopping in Syliras to find a map that would help. He now wondered if the extra day or so travel to the city would have paid off. Shai did feel some sense of urgency in finding Nya's mother. They had yet to find the specific herbs needed to contain Nya's mating instincts, which became irresistible and dangerous every Spring. They knew her mother could provide them. But, in reality, Shai was thoroughly enjoy the trip with Nya. Shortly after shaking his sleep and his mind becoming lucid, Shai felt a familiar, peculiar sensation of being observed. He knew it was not Nya, already aware by the sound of splashing water and the happiness he felt from her that she was playing in the pool below. He was also confident that if something were lurking about, his mate's keen senses would have picked up on it. So Shai attributed the uneasiness to some dream now ended. The Benshiran rolled over, crawled from beneath their blankets and crept to the edge of the small cliif. crouching at the edge, he peered over. Below he saw the kelvic splashing and playing, having assumed her womanly form. An unseen grin crossed his face, as if he were a boy catching his first glimpse of a nude girl. It was true, Nya had changed. Abashai could recall vivdly what she was like when they first met, perhaps more so than she would. Nya was only two. The forest cat was little more than a child, and quite a bit more innocent. His smile faded softly. Life had stolen her innocence, and he surely had a part in it. He wondered if he pushed her too hard to become more human. The Benshiran had not understood Kelvics, their true nature. He had tried to conform her to his world, for it took some time for the man to understand Nya was not a feral human that needed rehabilitated. She was something altogether different and wonderful. Had he stolen her innocence? Had her god already robbed her of her youth when he marked her for a lifelong quest? In the time a human would barely be considered a toddler, Nya had been taken from an infant to a woman with a great weight on her shoulders and her mind and body bore the scars of a lifetime. The man's eyes followed the lean, sculpted body of his wife. She indeed bore many scars. Shai found them attractive on her, but he did not take lightly the pain each had caused, for some were inflicted because of him. A scar at her side, from his prideful attempt to lead her in hunting a Talderian Elk, ones on her shoulder from his bite marks inflicted during a mating ritual, the triad of puncture scars on her chest where he drove a suvai into her heart. Abashai pushed away his somber thoughts, not wishing for them to darken Nya's joy. The past days have been refreshing, even if they were lost. The husband's smile returned as he watched Nya's lithe form emerge from the water and make her way back up to camp. Then the sudden feeling returned, that sense that he was being watched. Abashai scanned the area again, this time seeing his opened pack. Shai stood and walked closer, leaning down to pick it up. He had buckled it shut the night before, he knew it. The Benshiran rifled through it...yes, it had been disturbed, but nothing was missing. He looked over the rest of the gear. His mail shirt, weapons, other luggage, saddles, all still present. He picked up his coat and, out of habit, shoved his hand in the pocket. The man expected to wrap his hands around the small figurine of a curious monkey-thing. But the pocket was empty. Shai checked the other pockets. Nothing. A bit more frantic, he searched through his pants, his pack, the ground and the blankets they slept in. No monkey. Abashai was unnerved. For almost two years the statuette had been at his side, a mysterious gift from a mysterious creature. It was with him always. Not because he wanted it...it was because he could not get rid of it. No matter how far he threw it or where he left it, the thing appeared back in his pocket. Now suddenly, it was gone. It was disturbing. Nya had appeared, dressed and fetched food as he was going through the gear. He accepted the savory dried meat and the fruit, offering her a smile. He would not mention the missing magical monkey just yet. He grabbed a small bag from his pack, the towel Nya had dried off with, and turned to his mate. "Yes, perhaps today." he offered with some encouragement. "if not, then soon, something will come up I am sure that will get us heading the right direction. If the sense we are off track grows stronger, we can backtrack or cut west at an angle. Come on down to the water with me so I can wash, you can help." He motioned for her to join him, and as an afterthought he grabbed the nearest weapon, the frost-bladed longsword.

[Gillar]

Something was indeed watching Abashai and Nya. It watched Nya as she swam in the pool below. It watched as the two ate and conversed. It watched as they prepared to go back down to the pool. It hadn't appeared to anyone for some time now and finally decided it was time to end that. With a mighty stretch and a wide, toothy yawn, the creature emerged from the woods as Abashai sought to lead Nya down to the pool. "Jus'gonna leave me here, huh? Notta second thought for ol' Rencil? Ya jus'gonna go down to that water there and practice some oddball human mating ritual. Don't blame ya there, really..." A short, wide-eyed, oddly feminine voiced figure punctuated its words with a wink and a soft growl. From the woods behind them, a short, black and white, monkey stepped into the clearing. "But still, fact remains you were gonna leave me here and god have fun. I want fun too." Rencil proceeded to pick something small and with many legs from his fur, popped it in his mouth and over-exaggerated his chewing. "Which somehow reminds me, why in Vayt's foul nether-regions are you so far up north? I mean, yeah, it's pretty and all but come on." Rencil looked around, stared at his finger for a moment, sniffed it and shrugged. --------------------------------------- Almaras' unit was awake, dressed, fed and back on the trail. They had been tracking their prey for days and while experienced with the wilds, the mission was slowly taking its toll on the patience of all involved. As they returned to the search, Almaras couldn't help but wonder why this particular mission was so important. He had been tasked to take his unit out on a hunt. He was told their prey was of importance to the Ebonstryfe and in particular, Gru'tral, the Ebonlord himself. The targets were to be brought back alive and mostly unharmed if at all possible. Success would put Almaras on the path to becoming a Druvin while his unit as a whole would acquire the prestige that comes with succeeding in a mission for the Ebonlord. They had a description and a general location but their prey was on the move and knew how to travel the wilds so tracking them had been difficult. Almaras was getting closer though, he could feel it.

[Nya Winters]

Nya laughed slightly at the invite, her mind filled with memories of Abashai 'training' her not to disturb his bathing. Bathing was his private time and by the stars above, if she disturbed it, there would be hell to pay. Popping the bitter apple into her mouth and chewing the last of it, Nya nodded and turned to follow him. She felt good this morning, possessive of the area, and sensual. It was deep spring and things within her were awakening again, slowly, telling her body it was time for some of nature's most miraculous things.

"It's warm this morning...." She said into Shai's mind, her voice a purr. it wasn't warm, not really, but the promise of the sunrise meant it would be a nicer day later with the hope of some afternoon comfort. The air now was chilled and so too was the water in the spring. It had felt good on her warm skin. Nya had slept in her cat form all night, curled up at Shai's back, his head pillowed on one of her paws. He'd felt to warm too her so she hadn't really snuggled like she normally did. Instead, she'd just sat up and watched warily as the fire had burned down until her eyes grew to heavy to keep open.

Truth be told she was feeling a little aggressive. Her thoughts were strange to her as something in her began sizing Shai's strength up, comparing it to her own. He was a fine male, but there were weaknesses in him as numerous as his old injuries. She slid up behind him, before he could quite start out down to the pool, and nipped at the back of his neck as he faced the trail leaving his back open to her. Vulnerable. Nya rubbed her chin across his back, tilting her head so part of her cheek stroked him again. There were no scent glands on her human face, but had she been in her cat form, she'd have left invisible scent across him marking Abashai as hers. Her head moved slightly and she nipped the top of his shoulder lightly through cloth, then the other one, pressing herself up against his back.

Nya was aroused, but Shai knew something else too. She wanted to fight. It wasn't an all-consuming instinctual demand, not yet, but it was rising fast in her. A day or two, maybe three... if they were lucky she would hold out ten days, but no longer. Then the need to reproduce would be on her so heavily she'd be dangerous - they both would be. At least they were out in the woods away from anyone. It was as good of place as any to survive one of Nya's cycles. He'd only seen one once, and when he'd provided what she needed, the kelvic had quickened with his child. That had calmed down her instincts and vanished the cycle until fate had forced him to take his wife' s life and that of his unborn child. That she was alive now was nothing short of a miracle. That she was feeling like her old self was yet another thing to be thankful of.

Nya bit him gently, holding him with her teeth for a moment on the back of the neck, delaying him heading to the spring below. Dominance. She scent marked again then closed her eyes and laid her cheek against his left shoulder. "Do you feel it Shai? Do you feel what is so close? You'll have to decided soon, Shai, if we cannot find Lormar Tower. Will you fight or will you make me wear the collar and wait it out? I will want the children, Shai. My body will want to make your young. But you'll have to decide for yourself." That Nya could even talk about it meant Abashai had time to decide. And there were more than two decisions also. He could restrict her from her cat form altogether and have children anyhow. He could fight her and have children. Or he could leave her alone and wait it out while they looked for the tower. Nya would be vulnerable in both choices that involved the collar, but she'd be a whole lot safer vulnerable than tearing everything up she got her claws on that was male in the immediate future.

Nya's hands wrapped around her husbands body from behind and she stroked his taught stomach through cloth, dropping them lower to caress even more of him. Her teeth grazed the side of his neck again and she growled slightly. It was an invitation, issued much like the one last night was. But he could tell it was tempered with the need to fight a little. She wouldn't go easy on him...

Nor would she go easy on anyone who interrupted them as the monkey did.

She whirled at the sound of his voice and growled, moving between Shai and the annoying little creature. Nya narrowed her eyes and moved her hand to her clothing, beginning to loosen her belt and strip off the tunic that wrapped her form. She wiggled out of her trousers and boots, undressing quickly in front of their guest leaving Shai to answer the questions. She was simply going to have herself a snack, maybe two, because Rencil wasn't big enough or strong enough or remotely Shai enough to interest her at all.


"I'm hungrier than I thought. Hungrier than fruit and jerky." Her words in Abashai's mind were clearly a warning. He could stop her with a thought and he knew it. Nya just didn't know if he would.

[Abashai]

Even if Nya had not slid up behind him, had not nipped at his shoulders, already scarred by her sharp teeth, had not displayed her obvious possessiveness by latching her jaw to his neck, Abashai would still have known. Shared souls hid very little. Out in the wilderness, his ability to feel and even adopt the Kelvic's primal instincts increased manyfold. And he recognized the signs. She looked at him different, with her eyes and her mind. Nya, when the cycle came, began to lsee Abashai, not as the human husband he was, but as an animal mate, one that had to fight to keep her. He had become that for her before, engaging in the dangerous mating ritual, proving he was a male strong and hearty enough to father her children, and so he did. But fate had robbed them both of that offspring. As strongly as Nya yearned to mate with a male, any male, Abashai was equally jealous and determined that he would subdue her, that only he would perform the mating with his wife. As any male in the animal kingdom, he would fight and kill any rivals. He had no qualms about behaving with such animalistic mentality. Abashai had come to reconcile his traditions and his faith with the responsibility, and joy, of having a Kelvic mate. No man had keener insight to the Kelvic mind than Abashai, for he lived in one. And he knew what was coming down the pike. Nya had offered to wear a collar to prevent her changing during the seasonal mating. He had used his belt the last time, knowing if she could not resist and shifted to her forest cat form, she could kill him. Now, his mate had even offered to try to wait it out. But, in the end, Abashai knew he would go through with it. To experience both the struggle to subdue Nya and the ravenous coupling that followed was a dangerous thrill the Benshiran anticipated with excitement. The male mate sensed his female sizing him up. Shai's hands covered hers lightly as she caresses his abdomen, following them as they drifted down, a low gravely hum rumbling in his throat. "I feel it Nya. I feel you search my weaknesses, but do not underestimate me my love. Before, I hesitated, foolishly seeing you as a frail human woman. I will not hold back this time around." Indeed, he knew what the woman wanted, what she could endure. Yes, he wanted a family with Nya. And they knew their life was not suited for raising a child. But as strongly as Nya's body would crave conception, Shai knew his would too. "When the time comes, we will see about the collar." Abashai would only use the collar in dire circumstances. Collar's denoted submission and slavery. To the Benshiran people, slavery was sore subject. Abashai would never reduce his mate to even the appearance of servitude. The thought of anyone doing that to his Nya ignited a deadly smoldering rage. As she reached for him, Abashai's hands lifted over his head to entwine in Nya's damp brindled hair. The man knew what stirred inside his feline mate, her aggression and passion pooled into a need the cat knew her human would be hard pressed to deny. She was only moments from pushing Abahsai to a point he would not turn from, when it appeared. Shai spun around at the familiar voice, having to move to peer at the thing around Nya as she moved to protect him. It was Rencil. Memories flooded him, how the monkey-thing had helped him battle the Ebonstryfe soldiers to find Nya. Eyes daring to the Kevlic, Shai heard Nya's thoughts, single-minded and dangerous. As she stripped, ready to shift, Shai barked firmly in her consciousness. "NO Nya! It is a friend, I will explain. He helped me when I came to find you in the Cobalts at the shrine, he saved my life." Taking a few steps forward, Abashai put a restraining hand on Nya's shoulder. Examining the small creature, A puzzled look crossed the Benshiran's face. "Our business here is our own, why suddenly do you appear, now?" He had only seen Rencil when bad things were about to happen. Not that he brought them on, but it put Abashai on guard.

[Gillar]

As Nya hurriedly removed her clothing, Rencil leaned back a bit and whistled lustily before Abashai quickly jumped in the middle of it all. Offering a pouting look, Rencil shrugged and said, "Just when I thought things were gettin good, you had to jump in and ruin it." Rencil twisted his neck a bit to see around Abashai and gave Nya a wink; pointing at her with a long, human-like finger then pointing at himself while nodding. Turning his attention back to Abashai, the odd little monkey picked something out of the fur on his backside, tossed it in his mouth and said between over-exaggerated bouts of chewing, "I'm not sure I like your tone of voice. I mean, there I am asleep when I get this naggin feelin that sumthin bad is bout to happin. I wake up and where do I find myself? I'll tell ya where; less than a pycon's hangy from the one place none of us want to be. Ravok. You do know that, right?" Whatever it was that Rencil pulled from his fur was now being picked out of his teeth by the same finger he used to point at Nya just a moment before. "I mean really, do you enjoy big-daddy R's fanatics so much. If so, we coulda jus stayed at that cursed shrine a bit longer. Didn't have ta walk up to their front door." Rencil glanced around with an odd bit of focus as if looking for something. Quickly finding a small stick, he grabbed it and began using it to pick his teeth. -------------------------------------------------- Almaras unit continued their trek through the wilds in their search for their prey. The unit itself was small as far as the Ebonstryfe goes. Other than Almaras, there were only three other members of the unit. Absent were the normal contingent of apprentices as well as any mounts or large supply loads that normally accompanied such a long journey. There was Tegim, Samas and Vers. All three were human, Ravokian, with well-worn skin baring many scars from numerous conflicts. They moved with an unique gait that took advantage of the forested surroundings. Simply watching them take well-placed, measured steps through the underbrush told volumes about their experience with the wilds. They carried little in the way of weaponry with only light leather armor for protection. It had been only a few hours since they had broke up camp and continued on the trail when Almaras called for the unit to stop. He lifted his head slightly and sniffed at the air. A wide smile crossed his face. "Ah, there they are."

[Abashai]

Abashai placed himself between Nya and Rencil, not for the purpose of concealing his wife's nudity, though the Benshiran did scowl menacingly at the monkey-thing's lewd remarks, but to prevent the Kelvic from eating the magical being. It took only a passing moment for Shai to realize that the creature had been with him since the incident at the shrine, in the form of the small statuette of which he had been unable to rid himself. The eerie realization caused hairs on the back of the man's neck to stand on end. Rencil's sudden appearance did not bode well, he believed. After giving Nya a sharp warning glance and a mentally barked "Wait!", his attention returned to Rencil, his brow furrowed in concentration. Rencil had appeared twice during the engagement at the shrine, both times when Abashai was attacked by soldiers of the Ebonstryfe. The thing's manifestation and its hunch that something bad was about to happen stirred an uneasiness in Shai's stomach, which only intensified when the primate revealed their true location. "Ravok?" Stern eyes turned back to Nya. He himself did not know where Lormar Tower rested, but he was sure his bondmate would have mentioned if it was near Rhysol's city. The desert man knew little of the city, other than it was home to Black Sun and the Ebonstryfe, of which, aside from their rivals in the search for the Power Cube, he numbered among his most dire enemies. He never forgot what they had put Nya through. The uneasiness churning in Abashai's gut turned to quiet alarm. Rencil was here for a reason, and he knew his appearance meant the couple were in imminent peril. "Be on guard, search the air," He instructed Nya with a thought, "and shift, we are in danger." He had not donned his mail, nor his weapons. He looked down at the enchanted longsword scabbarded in his hand. If they were in the realm of Rhysol's followers, he would feel more comfortable with a weapon with which he was more adept, and turning to the gear, tossed aside the sword and took up the simple, wicked khopesh that had been at his side since he left Eyktol. Turning back to the others, Shai's heart rate increased in anticipation, his body readying to react. It triggered a threshold within his spirit, beyond which the power of his lord Yahal was made available to him. Its manifestation elevated his resolve, enhancing his focus. The ennervation seeped into his muscles, which twitched with increased strength beyond that of normal men. His gaze shifted from Nya to Rencil and then to the surrounding landscape. "Tell me, what do you sense, what do you know?" His inquiry was directed to both his bondmate and their ill-mannered companion, the man opening his awareness to encompass Nya's senses and perceptions.

[Nya Winters]

Lormar Tower should have been closer. Nya was certain they were traveling in the right direction. But she'd been young and so lost when she'd left that once she'd passed out of familiar territory, she hadn't payed much attention. There was no way to know that once isolated from her mother and her father, the magical shieldings on the tower had noted her for a stranger and allowed them to pass by it weeks ago, almost on its very doorstep. And truth be told, Nya hadn't been paying too much attention. It was a luxury for her to be traveling alone with Shai, totally focused on him, enjoying being with her lover and husband. Their pace had been leisurely, unhurried, unpurposed. The trip had been a vacation from their life and a way to rediscover their bond after so many challenges to it.

Because sometimes, since their new unity, Nya lost who she was as equally as Shai's values tended to drift. She became more human and he less so. This trip was a way to correct that, find a balance, and move forward. And now, after such a lengthy time together with Shai but alone in the wilds, the balance had been restored.

There was nothing truly human about Nya other than what Shai had loaned her from his soul. Even when they were intimately together, each of them realized their differences acutely. He held something incredibly feral in his arms at night, something that wholly depended upon him for her life. And she held the power of an acute intellect and the passions only a human could house in her arms. He became wilder with her and she became more intelligent. On her own, Nya was smart but nothing wild could outfox a true human. And humans, without a kelvic like Nya at their sides, had such hard times understanding the savageness of the world they lived in sheltering from it within their own inventions: cities, weapons, future plans.

As her moss green eyes stared down the creature her body swarmed with a swirl of colored lights and shifted from human to forest cat in almost the blink of an eye. Shai's words were obeyed without question. She always knew why and never had to ask now. Suddenly she took up an enormous amount of space where the slim girl had stood barely casting a shadow moments ago. Brindled hair, neither black nor gold nor brown nor red kissed with dappling made her blend perfectly into the forest surroundings. She had a predisposition for standing utterly still and letting the forest reclaim her form as part of its own when she was deep in thought or cautious. Here and now she was both, for inside her head Shai's feelings and thoughts passed through her mind like they were indeed her own and she knew what he knew as his sharp human intellect put things together.

In exchange, she opened her senses now that her form was easier for such things. Shai could deal with the monkey and now its added companion. She could and would be their nose and eyes instead. Tilting her head, the wind gave her no information. It blew past her in a specific direction, odds were carrying their scent to an enemy some distance. She tilted her head, listened, and heard four sets of footfalls, nearly silent, approaching again downwind. Nya moved then, flowing within the forest, her paws digging into the duff and carrying her gracefully for all that she was huge, past the monkey and around, circling silently, crouching low, getting a better angle to either see or smell what was coming up on them.

Shai's thoughts at her drove her onward. She obeyed him instantly, acting before his thoughts were even coherent. Ten seconds later, flowing up a rise, she spotted what she heard. Four men. Origins or intent unknown. Moving with unconscious grace and warrior intent. They radiated danger. But then so could Abashai and herself. Nya watched, uncertain, but wary all the same. It was not as if their enemies looked a certain way nor did Rhysol's taint on them harbor a foul stench. These men were clean, smelled slightly of the sweat of their hike, and were at the peak of their health. Each one was armed, though they carried no excesses like wagons or people easily vulnerable. They moved as if they had traveled together often, aware of each other and unconcerned that the one to the left or right would misstep or stray.

If she could see them, they could see her, but she held her ground. Lunch forgotten, she looked for any ranged weapons they might have. Nya hated bows unless they were in Abashai's hands. She hated arrows even worse. The big cat crouched, then stood up on her forelegs, her hind quarters crouched on the ground, and roared suddenly. Her sounding was a challenge, a warning, and a test to see what the men would do. Nya had grown and she felt it. There were no longer any days when she could crawl into Shai's bed as anything other than human to curl up at his back. The only time she'd now fit was if they were camping under the stars together with no tent to constrain them. Fully as large as a horse though far more flexible, Nya was on the cusp of another reproductive cycle and it emboldened her.

Men were no match, even Ebonstryfe men, if these indeed were the enemy. Shai was her equal and no other. The men marching below, even the monkey, were nothing compared to her strength and unique fusion of human and animal. Had she lived in younger times she would have stood at the right hand of Marcus Kelvic, been protector and mount both - never culled like some of the inferior creations were. Arrogance infused her driven by the hormones coursing through her springtime blood. Nya stood up, stretched leisurely, and let them have a good look. Paws out front, she bowed to the world, then arched her back forward and let the muscles in her powerful hind quarters ripple. Men were so weak. So unworthy. But they tasted deliciously. Suddenly she wanted blood, a lot of it, to fill her stomach and strengthen her own form. Mating would come soon and she'd need the nourishment to test Shai and make sure he was worthy.

Without a second warning, Nya charged, driving herself down the gentle slope in a series of leaps that were more of a controlled fall than anything. She'd aim at any of them armed with ranged weapons, trying to tear directly into the heart of them and take them out. She was certain none of them would stand their ground, going down hard instead or scattering like rats off a sinking ship.

[Gillar]

Rencil did not react quite the same as Abashai and Nya. As the human and kelvic erupted to alertness with Nya racing off with dire determination toward the enemy, Rencil shrugged at Abashai's questioning and responded dryly. "Obviously not as much as you. When you both are ready to actually listen instead of charging the unknown head-on, I''ll be in touch. In the meantime, try not to get killed." Then, in the time it took for Abashai to half blink, the monkey was gone. Where it stood lay a tiny statue baring the likeness of the odd creature. With Nya charging toward what she thought she sensed, Abashai was left alone with only the echoed whisper of Rencil licking his ears before growing silent, "Remember the last time at the shrine? You and her were separated. What happened?" Nya tore through the sparse forest which grew thicker with each leap and bound. She could smell, hear and almost taste the four men as she rapidly closed the distance between her and them. Then she was upon them. Four men, dressed for survival in the wilds. Perhaps it was her state of mind or maybe something odd with the way the light of the sun broke through the trees, but as Nya came face to face with the source of her bloodthirst, something tickled the edge of her mind as she pounced upon what looked to be the leader; their faces were blurred. It wasn't as if she didn't get a good look at them; they were plain as the whiskers on her face. No, where the details of their faces; eyes, nose, mouth, should have been, there was simply a blur. The realization did not hit until she crashed down upon the leader. Instead of flesh, blood and bone, all Nya felt was the air beneath her followed by her paws contacting the ground. Immediately, the image of the four men shattered; the shards fading away into nothingness almost instantly. The sounds of their movement were gone and no trace of their scent could be detected; it was as if they were never really there. The illusion was discovered. --------------------------------------- Meanwhile, a short distance away yet still far enough to remain undetected, Almaras and his men had stopped. He had caught the desired scent in the air; the scent of their targets. He cautiously stalked forward a few yards from the others and sniffed the air again and then again. It was then that his keen eyes caught a glimpse the source of the smell, something that broadened the smile on his face. The four had tracked their prey for some time now, growing ever closer. When they knew they had come within a mile or so, Almaras had the others set a few traps and alerts to help them home in on targets. Kneeling down and pushing aside the underbrush, Almaras revealed a single paw print. The print was large yet shallow; the mark of one who was at home in the wilds and who moved as such. He motioned for the others to approach and said, "They are not far now. If Rhysol wills it, we will have them within the hour and then..." Almaras was silenced by the not-so-distant sound of a roar. The four men looked at each other in unison. Vers chuckled softly, looked to Samas and said, "It'd seem that those games of yours finally proved to be more than just party tricks." Samas, a crooked grin spreading across his face, bent his head to the side, rubbed his neck and said softly, "I told you, I'm a professional." As Samas rubbed his neck and pulled his hand away, an elaborately designed, inverted triangle could be seen on the spot he had been touching. Almaras quickly hushed them and rose to his feet. All four then quickly and silently darted through the forest toward the sound of the roar and the site where Samas had set one of the alerts.