Lith's Blog

"Well..." I started, not looking at him, "If you weren't so bloody full of yourself, that might help a little."

He came to stand to my right, just out of sight of my peripheral vision. "Hmm..."

I groaned and closed my eyes, wishing Driscol away, "Please. Don't agonize me. I might end up kicking you."

A noise issued from his throat that I was not prepared for.

He was chuckling?!

"Seeing that that tree didn't stand much a chance, maybe I should be a little more courteous."

I scoffed. "Yeah. Maybe you should."

"Like not telling you that you look like an ugly rag doll."

My eyes snapped open and I whirled around. "WHAT?!"

He sat down, crossing his legs Indian style and gestured to my clothes... which I had totally forgotten. I wasn't in my combat suit anymore... I was in those sweats Darvire had given me...
My fury subsided, if only slightly. "Oh..."
"Yeah."
"Shut. Up." I turned back around and leaned against the trunk again. "Now, why are you here?"
"Well, one of two reasons was to remind you that you have those despicable, hideous rags on that would shame your father--"

Holy. Fudge. He serious?
That did it.

Snarling, I jolted to my feet and lunged at him.

Laughing, Driscol jumped out of my way and nimbly to his feet. "and into--"

I stumbled as I jumped at him again, my wounded leg deterring me, but he didn't move...
He let me tackle him...?
As I nailed him to the ground, he continued speaking, "some proper elven combat armor."

"What?"

"You heard me."

"No, I heard you being a total pig."

"No, you misheard... but you surprise me at your adventurous behavior..."
My eyes widened and I jumped off him. "You. Disgust. Me."

"And you, I."

"So the feeling is mutual." I turned to glaring at him, crossing my arms over my chest.
"But honestly," he turned and got a large knapsack out from behind the dead tree, "my intentions were fair."
"Amazing." I said, layering my words with sarcasm, "A bag of tricks."
"For you." Driscol tossed them to me.

We starred at each other for a moment. Then I caved. "Fine."
Blinking, my vision turned yellow. Looking at the bag, I only got cool tones... except for something, at the very bottom, that was a pulsing yellow/orange. I blinked my infrared vision off and looked at Driscol. "Something is alive in here."
He looked confused. "No..." He then nodded. "Ah, I know what you are referring to."
"And that is...?"
"The Control Crystal."
The word stung a familiar cord. I stayed silent a moment, trying to remember.
"Just open it." He urged.

Cautiously, I opened the strings of the knapsack, ready for something to spring out at me. When nothing did, I peered into the bag, and gasped. Slowly, I reached in and took out the battle gear. He had been telling the truth... surprisingly.
First I took out the armored dress-looking thing. It was a of a light green design with darker, intricate leaf embroidery along the seams. It was sleeveless, and tied up the back in a corset-like fashion. A deep mahogany belt would go around the middle. There were full-length arm gauntlets that were a dark wood brown; silver was etched into the flexible metal. Along with the gauntlets, there were mid-thigh high boots that matched the color and design. Also with that, there was a high-necked silver guard that would go around my neck completely in a graceful fashion and fell over the shoulders, clasping in the front with a slightly pulsing green stone. Though the fabric looked like it was not even able to withstand a pin prick, I knew it was tougher then a rhino's hide.

"You've got to be kidding me..." I gasped.
"Like it?" Driscol asked, seeming pleased with himself. "The metal was dug deep out of the ground had it once was shooting through space to crash many years ago into this planet. With it, we sung songs into it by the most beautiful elves anyone could fathom. The trees themselves offered their moaning melodies to make the metal bendable and made to endure most stress. Now the fabric is made out of the finest spinner spiders that live in the deep craters of the elven land and the wool of lion bears, who lounge deep in the mountains. Almost nothing can penetrate this cloth, as well it can withstand great heat, and can be dry-cleaned... if need be."

I meditated on his words, thinking up how to react to this. I replied, slowly, in elvish. "This is a great gift you have given me. One would assume it would be graced on a king or a queen, but not I... Why do you bestow this on me? And how can I be so honorably given this and not have my friends protected either wise? It would seem unfair and un-right..."

Driscol's eyes lightened up as I spoke his language flawlessly. He replied, in the same tongue, "But shouldn't a Prodigy Child be protected to the most fullest?"

"I will be putting myself in more harms way when I know I am protected thus to protect my friends and worry less about my own welfare."

Now Driscol paused. "I answer the previous question: Why do I bestow this unto you? It is because it would do my parents great honor if you accepted. I had sung to that armor myself when it was in its process. For a Destined Child of Times to be wearing something that the Skyblade family wrought, it would be the greatest feat for me and my clan."

"So, its some self serving purpose." I said in English. It was too brutish said in elvish. "And I've done nothing to prove my worth to wear this." I slowly put the things back into the bag.

Driscol was silent, and I could see anger seething underneath. "My aren't you wise. I should have been more thoughtful in giving a priceless artifact to a murderous mutt like yourself."

Again, I felt my anger stir, but I calmed myself with one deep breath. "Hey, if it restores your pride any, I'll talk to Cati and Third about this--if they're okay with it..."

This seemed to calm him. "Fine. But this is my one and only time I will offer this to you, be warned."

We stood there, me with a the knapsack, him with his solemn glare, when I was struck with a thought.
"Huh..."

"What?"

I turned my head and smiled, "You said you came to talk to me with two reasons. One was just explained. What was the other reason?"

Unknown Thirds blog

I didn't really know what to think of all these new... people.
They all seemed nice, and they had helped Cati.
But at the same time, it was hard to get used to the whole... good guy thing.

Especially with my background.

The meaty dwarf started pulling random pieces of food out of one of the few bags that they brought.
He handed everything around with a pleased expression on his face.
Rolls, meat, fruit...

It was all very quiet since Lith and Discrol left.

But Cati isn't known for being quiet for very long.

"So," She said rather loudly as she bit into a hunk of meat, "Lith will be back, she just doesn't like your elf friend and doesn't want to go commando on his butt. Although, it might not have helped that he followed her."

Branduff chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck, "He just wanted to talk to her, its not often that we a Prodigy Child, I think that he's very interested in her story right now. He's a curious elf that one, though he's very good at masking his feelings... he used to be a prince you know."

"What?!" I said at the exact same time Cati said.
"Used?"

Branduff, liking our expressions, almost laughed at the sudden response,
"He was exiled, sent to help the rebels, but that's another story altogether. It's not mine to tell."

"So what's your story Branduff? How did you manage to be one of the people to come out here to meet us? Why do you even trust us?" Cati blurts out.
"Cati," I said gently. "If he doesn't want t-''

"I actually" Branduff cut me off. "Came out here so I could ask you specials a couple questions about whereabouts of my brothers before you arrived back to where we're taking you. But before you say anything let me explain."

He paused and played with a blade of grass. "I thought," he said almost to himself. " if I help you, maybe you would help me."

Cati nodded and settled into me, ready for the story.

"There were rumors going around that the Mistress wanted to do some testing on dwarfs at the time, I never thought it would be my kin... We were ambushed one night, all three of us were guarding the outer wall of our village, many, many leagues from here. They came out of nowhere..." He flinched slightly as he recalled that night. "We didn't see it coming, they had left us alone for so long... I never thought that it would happen so quickly..."

I took a breath and tried to steady myself...
I can't let my body get rigid... Cati will feel it.

Her wonderful eyes were wide with wonder, obviously she didn't have any idea of this mission.
She was probably still in basic Special training at the time...

"The two of them were silent, but incredibly strong and deadly. One was male... the other female, or at least from what I could tell."
He picked up a roll and started absently chewing on it.

"My brothers and I fought, but we were no match for these soldiers... They were targeting my brothers, I could tell in the way they fought and moved, I wasn't a priority. My brothers fought with a bravery that would have graced our mother with pride; they were fine... fine warriors of our clan... But... those two Specials... they had knocked me out within a couple of minutes of the fight, a pressure point, and when I woke up the next day, I was bruised... and my brothers were gone."
True sorrow entered his eyes, a pain like nothing I'd ever seen.

Regret entered my heart...

I realized, my arm had gone tight and stiff around Cati, she didn't notice, to caught up in Branduff's story. I tried to loosen my grip.

"Abhey, which means fearless, was my older brother's name, he was tall... for a dwarf... and had a long salt and pepper beard. Derex, was my younger brother, he had a long blond beard and the lightest kindest blue eyes you will ever see.''

I flinched slightly. Their voices had entered my head... begging for mercy...

"Have you seen them around your headquarters?"

Cati looked up at him, "No," She said chewing slightly on her lip "I've never seen any dwarfs at the Facility..."

Cati nudged me,
"What about you Third? You've been around longer then I have..."

Then, and only then, I was very glad that she couldn't see my face.

"No," I said steadily. "Never."

Branduff's eyes were filled with grief and regret.
"Thank you." He said quietly.

My thoughts were racing...
My past long behind me, but still close at the same time.
And my future, here in my arms...

Lith's Blog

Green flashed pass... My anger some what ebbing away. But not quite.

I needed to find one good thing to kick.

Thoughts of that infuriating elf ran though my head again. His smug face, his princely features, his flawlessness, his egomanical thoughts... or his stonely silence...

I needed to find one good BIG thing to kick.

Why was I running around in the forest instead back at the clearing with the others?

Basically it went like this:

Breakfast was far from my mind at that moment. So when Branduff started gathering firewood from around the near underbrush, I just starred at him. Driscol, as he walked by me, muttered coyly, "You know, you could help, instead of standing there like a deer in the path of an incoming car..." When you are standing in the presence of fantastical creatures, you tend to forget that they knew of present day things. I turned to glare at him. He looked back with a smug, faint, perfect smirk on his handsome features. "Fine then." I snapped back. I went into the surrounding wood to find some decent sized sticks. When I returned, I found Driscol setting up the sticks in a tepee style, and Branduff taking out wrapped packages out of a large bag I hadn't seen before. I walked over to the fire and dropped the pile of sticks haughtily by the elf. He looked up at me with an expressionless face.

I didn't know what annoyed me more:

Driscol acting like he's the biggest thing since the Specials...

or

masking his smug feelings making me wonder what the heck that elf is thinking.

I didn't respond and squatted by the drawf. "Sooo... where did these all come from?"
Branduff looked at me with twinkling eyes. "Ah, wouldn't ya like to know, now lass?"
I sat down and crossed my legs. "Come to think of it, yes, I would."
He only shook his head. "You'll learn later."
I sighed. "I endure how much, and I still need to wait?"
The dwarf chuckled. "For now, just enjoy this hearty meal I'll be making ya." He added on a softer note, "And if ya don't mind me sayin', can't exactly trust ya now, ya know. Seein' how you came from..." He lowered in a softer voice, "THOSE people."

He didn't have to say who for me to get who he was talking about.

The inner Special in me was infuriated, wanting to lash out and show this little drawf that he could trust me. But instead, I was met with an inner understanding. "Totally understandable." I said and tried to cover my disappointment, and I for the most part, I thought I sounded dead right convincing.

Cept for the smartly little almost inaudible scoff I almost didn't hear, even with my almost 100% elven hearing.

My head snapped around and I narrowed my eyes. My Special glare, not as terrifying or deadly as Cati's, but Special enough, pulled out its fullest strength towards Driscol, who was intently making his his tepee of sticks. I noticed a small, faint grin. He looked up casually, like he had no idea why I was trying to bore little tiny daggers through his flawlessness. With big guarded eyes, straight face, and an innocent, melodic voice, "What? I can't help it you can't be trusted because you just turn out to be some brainwashed psychopath who is probably the reason Darvire and your 'friend' Cati are hurt in the first place." He shrugged and returned to piling on the sticks I got for him, like it was the most important thing for him to do.

Usually, you would think you would like elves... You picture them as some little cute shoemaker, or some wonderful, graceful, and curtious beautiful being that hops around in leggings.

I was definitely not liking this one, who was neither.

And I could only sit there and seethe.

Or could I?

I took a near by stick as thick as my fist and snapped it in two to throw both at Driscol's artistic pile of sticks as hard has I could. He some how caught one stick with one lighting quick hand, with an audiable THWAK! against his hand. The other hit dead on.

The impact was almost satisfying.

The pile exploded basically, sticks and twigs and branches flying every which way.

It would have been so much better if they all burst into flame.

The drawf started to chuckle again. "Oh, don't mind Driscol." He said, totally ignoring the fact I demolished the elf's piece of work, "He's just haughty cause his parents made him come." I noticed with satisfaction as Driscol was calmly picking up the mess, he stiffened rigidly.

"And why did his parents make him come?" I asked without trying to cover my content.

Branduff shrugged. "You'll have ta ask him that, lass."

Oh, great. Like I was going to ask him that anytime soon.

Driscol was just one of those people...er, fantastical creature that you know you'll never be friends with or have decent conversations with them.

Branduff sighed neverously. "I know this might seem like a task, but can ya please pick up the mess ya made, Lith? I can't start makein' ya your food till the fire's cookin'."

"Believe him when he says its along time!" Mannix called. "A drawvers breakfast will usually last into mid day!! Cooking only takes longer!" He had gone off and stood the base of the clearing as a guard. "And if you don't mind, we are all hungry!"

I took a deep breath, ready for Driscol to say something that would completely make me flip out and totally not help out. But instead, he continued picking up branches.

Unknown Third (emitting his feelings) and Cati looked curiously over at us from where they sat... Where Cati sat. You only could see a moving bandages in thin air that suggested Unknown Third. Cate was giving me a warning glance, that was saying, 'Just do it, for Pete's sake. You never explode like this... like me.' Unknown was emitting, 'Do it before Cate starts laughing at you and rips her stitches.'

I let it out in one whoosh. "Fine." Sucking up pride, vainity, and a whole lot of words I would have been saying, to gather up the wood.

After I dumped a armful of sticks by Driscol, again, haughtily, I walked off to the edge of the forest.

I needed air.

Being around that elf made me uncomfortable. He was arrogant and infuriating, and made my inside Special (that I had broke way from was still there, deep inside of me, next to the new crazy thing I had become an hour before) want to leap out again. I hated my past. I really did. And Driscol didn't make it better by bringing it up.

I stood there for a moment... Just breathing and looking into the forest.

I really needed to go punch something.

But it wasn't going to be in the presence of HIM.

So that was how I ended up running about in the forest. Jumping, flying, darting, and looking for something to destroy... some of my Special instincts leaking through.

I abruptly halted infront of a tall, dead tree. The wood was mostly a grainy black, the limbs bare of leaves, save dead ones. It was an odd tree, amongst its green kin. No life stirred within its branches, if bugs didn't count.

It was perfect.

I ran back a ways, turned, and made a charge at the tree, dumping, and spinning, lashing out my foot in a spinning kick, yelling a war cry.

It was a clean cut.

I basically spun right through, cutting the tree in half some high a distance from its trunk. The wood was soft due to termites and age. I landed on the other side, and the tree fell, moaning, groaning, and not to mention crashing. A big flock of birds errupted out of the trees, squaking madly.

It was an amazing thing to see, really, and surprisingly my anger was gone.

To be replaced by pain. The euphoria of the break didn't last long. I tried to stand, and realized I would have a lovely bruise on the back of my whole lower leg. I limped painfully over to the trunk and sat down, resting my head against the bark. The forest was unusually loud. I closed my eyes, hoping my regenerating skills would kick in and lessen the pain.

But, in fact, it was the forest sounds that calmed me more. The sway of the wind, the twittering of calming birds, the rolling of bushes and leaves...

And a slight pat pat pat sound of feet.

You have GOT to be kidding me.

"Do I really bug you that much?"

Lith's Blog

I flitted through the trees, recovered fully, and using my health to move swiftly almost in time with Unknown Third as he flew with Cati. I was worried about her...

I sprang from tree branch to tree trunk to the ground to a tree branch again. My leg, completely healed, helped me regain my power of strong jumping, making me leap from tree to tree; a sleek panther on a tactic mission.

This was what I was made to do.

Darvire flitted in and out besides me and ahead; always there, keeping up. My shadow.

The morning noises arouse slowly around us, chorusing a song without a beat or tune; a ruckus that made up a melody of the sunrise. The swish of wind through out the trees were the strings and winds, the slow tremolo of birds were the brass, and the sudden howls and cries of the wild made up the choir. I felt alive with anticipation, my cheeks flushed with the overwhelming sense of recklessness of nature. I've never really went this deep into the forest surrounding the Base. You never caught sight of a rabbit darting into the underbrush, or the swift casual flick of a fox tail as it went home for the day. The wild was afraid to approach us. But now, with it all around me, it was making my spirit--once captive of the Mistress--feel fearless.

The earth warmed slowly; nightly tones taking on a new attire. Ominous trees lighting. Shadows disappearing. And we were slowly going up hill.

Darvire's sudden breath right by my neck almost made me loose concentration of landing on a tree branch the size of the width of a piece of paper. He had appeared out of the shadows to take the leap right over me. He landed on the branch above, as graceful as me with my Blessed elven powers. He looked calmly at me, but yet, his face was expressionless. "Stop at the crest of the hill. Tell the others."

A mask of eerie shadows enveloped him in a cloak, shrouding him from my night vision. He disappeared.

I sensed Unknown Third and Cati flying by. I touched the space right below the lobe of my ear with my two first fingers. "Cati, Unknown Third, rendezvous at the hill."
I leapt into space.
"Copy that." Unknown Third's voice.

I broke through a tangled mess of vines and landed cat like at the top of the bare hill... which was weird. Trees led up to it, but at the rounding top, the stopped, suddenly. Darvire was standing there, hold his side painfully. Soon after, I saw a little flash of skin as Unknown Third and Cati touched down. The invisibility blanket was taken off, and Cati appeared, looking slightly pale, her head in the crook of what I would have guessed Unknown Third's neck.
"So?" Cati croaked, weak, but still sounding like... well... Cati-ish. "Where are all your fantastical people you were telling us about?"

"Arriving just now." Darvire said softly to her.

Out of the tree, arriving the opposite of the way we were coming from, four figures emerged and appeared at the top of the hill. Darvire regarded them respectfully, and the others regarded him with even more.
One was a tall proud centaur. He had the structure of a Clydesdale horse. The human torso was insanely built of muscles, and his shoulders, upper chest, and lower arms were covered in leather armor. Over a shoulder he slung had slung a bow and quiver. Hard stone like eyes looked at me kindly. Long, knotted and tangled sandy hair was tied in a complicated looking pony tail. Pardon the pun. Elfish ears poked out of the mess of hair. He was young, for you could see his youthfulness in his sharp face. He had a lance in hand.
Next in line was a short, square, and built figure of a drawf. He had a big pointy blue hat with a wide rim on that covered up a bushy bunch of reddish brown hair. You could see twinkling black eyes under his thick eye brows, a round nose above a very full and bushy beard. He wore a dark blue tunic that was suited for night, and black pants that were tucked into a large set of brown boots. A short sword hung from his side.
The brownie who sat besides him was a fierce little thing to behold. I hadn't seen a brownie for the longest of times. Like all brownies, she was a large looking cat, the size of a puma, but more lynx in characteristics. She had big purple eyes, more humanish front arms and hands, and big lynx-ish ears that were twitching everywhere. I belt could be seen under her light brownish/gray tabbied fur with bags hanging from it.
The next creature made all take a deep in breath. I hadn't seen one since my Blessing night. Cati and Unknown Third had never. The elf was a slender, graceful figure that stood proudly. He had fair blond hair that was so fine, it looked like it was made out of moonbeams. It hung down his wide shoulders more straight then I could ever manage with mine. Half of it was braided back into a half pony tail, ferns were seen woven into it and through out his head. His face was ageless, but familiar to me... possibly because I looked the same: sharp cheek bones, slanted eyes, slender neck, and a perfectly sharp nose. His eyes were green--like mine, but more dead like a decaying leaf, then mine, which were like a newly budded one. He wore a fine green tunic with a dark brown trailing jacket over it. Light brown leggings went into his fine gray slippers. On his back was the same as the centaur, and on his waist there was the same as the drawf.

Out of the four, the elf looked like he was the most unhappy to be here. When he laid his eyes on me, they lit up... if for the briefest second. It was only then he realized that I wasn't of his kind, he went back to looking too good for his assignment.

Darvire introduced them to us in order, "Mannix, Bria, Branduff, and Driscol." And then us to them. All of them nodded their heads politely, but for Driscol, who crossed his arms in an arrogant way.
I automatically liked the other three, and loathed the elf.

"Bria, if you don't mind..." Darvire started, still holding his side carefully. I thought he was going to ask the brownie about his wounds, but instead, he pointed to Cati, who looked entirely surprised. "She needs attention."

And then,

Darvire fainted.

I gasped and rushed over to his side to kneel. Bria was there seconds later. She had the smell of old spices and underbrush in her fur. She looked at me for a second then back at Darvire's unmoving form. "Ah, that little boy." She said, showing her catt-ish teeth, and having her voice startling me. It was one of a young lady, strangely sore around the edges. "Seems like he took a little nap." She lifted his shirt up to reveal a gory wound. Three large gashes had pierced his side, showing off part of his rib cage in one, something that appeared to be his stomach in the other, and just layers of muscles in the last. Oddly, a blueish liquid was pouring from the wounds. If I wasn't used to seeing things so horrible, I would have been sick. I was amazed he had survived that long without tiring.

Behind me, I heard Unknown Third lay Cati on the ground and come over to peer at the horror with us. "Wow." Was all he said. Bria looked at the air, trying to find his face. "You know what?" She asked, not expecting an answer, "I heard you were invisible, but I never knew it would be annoying for me..." She then questioned us, "How long was he traveling like this?" A pause. "20 minutes, I think." Unknown Third answered. Bria whistled. Actually, she hissed, but it sounded like a whistle. "That's a record." She sat back and crossed her arms.

Unknown Third and I starred. "W-what?!" I managed a strangled whisper. "Record? R-record for what?!"
Bria knowingly said, "That's the longest time this guy has lasted with those sorts of wounds and didn't pass out right away. His last one was only 9 minutes and 39 seconds. I remember. He'll be alright, though. He's a vampire. He can't actually die unless you shred him into millions of pieces. But the price you pay is dealing with the pain. It'll take him a couple of hours to recuperate. Until then..." She turned and trotted off towards Cati. "Let's have a look-see, hon." Unknown Third squeezed my shoulder briefly before he followed the little hairy thing.

Crunching foot steps neared. I looked up into the faces of Mannix and Branduff. Actually, with Branduff's case, I only tilted my head up a fraction. I stood and hastily brushed off my knees. "Well, Lith, since our leader needs some time to get him self together," Branduff started with his low, gravely voice, totally unfazed by the vampire's bleeding form inches from his feet, "We's were wondering if you could tell us why he came to be about, seeing you were late and all..."
"Oh..." Still not getting over Darvire. He seemed so helpless laying there.

Abruptly, Driscol was at his side, a pillow under Darvire's head and a blanket covering him up. He flickered his eyes at me, and half smiled. It disappeared within seconds.

"Well?" He asked coolly.

I was so close to thinking he actually cared for a moment.

Shaking my thoughts into place, pride inflamed by this arrogant elf, I recapped my side of the story, unwavering. The three males listened intently, even Driscol. "It was after capturing Darvire that I realized who he was: the vampire who Blessed me on my Blessing night. We had Bonded, quick and without realizing it. It was until I saw him again, the Mistress's brainwashing and controlling techniques suddenly snapped, and had no power over me. I had a rebellious mind. I then continued to break the snare of the Mistress on Cati and Unknown Third. Cati did so almost automatically since we were Bonded, but it was difficult. Very. If you haven't been under Her influence, you have no idea what it is to regain your self control once again. We plotted, got overheard and attacked. We escaped planned again, and went back to rescue Darvire. The Mistress, unaware and too arrogant (my eyes met Driscol's), wasn't able to assemble the Guards or other Specials to stop us. Before I reached his holding cell, a Elite Special known as the Beast attacked me. I barely managed to defeat it. I got Darvire out, as well as other convicts, and attempted to get out of that facility. Thanks to the Beast, I had lost a major amount of blood, and fainted. I woke up later to find that Darvire had addressed my wounds. During this time, Cati and Unknown Third had hacked into the computer room where the Elite Special called Patchwork attacked them there. They escaped also. The details are unknown to me. We were all heading towards this meeting place, when I got shot with a tranquilizer. I woke up in the forest with Darvire still carrying me. We met up with the others after a slight mix up, and I rested in the cave. I was out when we did find each other. Darvire has an amazing singing voice (the men looked at eachother knowingly). Unknown Third addressed my wounds. We soon after left after we found out Darvire isn't the run-of-the-mill vampire. Heading out in the forest, we encountered numerous Specials as in the Harpies and the Cats. Unknown Third and Cati were first attacked by the Harpies, which I think they succeeded in killing them both. The Cats, on the other hand, attacked me and Darvire. I was still crippled at the time..." I faltered here, trying to think of how I was going to explain the next part. "Darvire was ending up fighting two brothers on his own... I... I suddenly came overwhelmed with this... power, you could say. I can't remember much other then the fact that my wounds were completely healed in the process, I kicked some major butt--according to Cati--saved Cati after she saved Darvire... and I... I..." I stopped, not daring to look at any of them. "I guess I told Winda--the leader of the Cats--to... leave. And then they did. Both Cati and Darvire were hurt in the process, as you can see here, we traveled here directly after our showdown with the Cats, and that's basically our adventure in a nut shell. And that's minus all the details."

Mannix and Branduff looked impressed. Driscol, of course, was unimpressed-looking.
"That is quite the story." Mannix said in his deeply handsome voice. "Amazing for someone of your talents." It was just after he said that that the sun peeked over the mountain range, showering us with light.

Branduff clapped happily. "Ah! Perfect! Time for breakfast!"

Cati's blog

I couldn't believe it, I was looking at Thirds actual face. Or at least what I could see through my tears.

It was all a blur for a minute or two, when I finally stopped crying enough to get a clear, good look at him I was completely taken with him...

Again.

He had beautiful brunette hair that was tinted red in the sunlight, it was hanging so that one eye was almost covered. And he had the biggest blue eyes that I've seen in my life, clear blue, and there was a kindness in them. There were freckles sprinkled across his nose, and cheeks. He had pale skin, except for the blush that was still on his cheeks from our kiss only moments ago.

We were sitting on the ground, and leaning up against a huge tree. Third was holding me close to him, all I could do was stare for a couple minutes. Not seeing or hearing anything else.

"I... I can't believe that you actually..." I started but Third cut me off.

"I had to," he said gently brushing away a stray strand of hair that fell across my eyes. "If anything happened to either one of us before I had the chance to show you what I look like... I'd never forgive myself." He pecked me on the lips and smiled. It was the first time I'd ever seen his smile. It was wonderful. I had already memorized what he looked like...

"You, Cati, are my world. And the only person right now that I'm going to allow to see my face."

"Just me?" I stuttered. "What about Lith...? And why have you been so secretive about your identity all these years? I don't see anything wrong with you..."

"I... I didn't make good choices in the past, and if certain people saw my face... they'd probably take me away... forever."

"Wha-?" I started but he cut me off, I knew that was all I was going to get from him for now.

"And I'll let Lith see me when the time is right, which isn't now. She's already gone trough so much, she doesn't need to know that she's traveling with someone who..."

Twang!

Something went though me. My Lith senses were tingling...

"...So that's why can't let her see my face." Third finished.

"Huh? I'm sorry Third," I said running my hand through his hair, "I totally missed that." He kissed my hand as is came down around his cheek, he had this 'look' on his face, I liked it, it made me feel... Special.

Then he pulled me in for another kiss, but I pushed away after a second or two.

"I think Lith's in trouble..." I said, my face two inches from Thirds.

Half of me knew that she was in trouble and that I needed to get up NOW and go help her, but the other half of me wanted to stay here with Third, and convince myself that nothing was wrong.

"What? That connection that you two have is coming through?" Third asked, a somewhat confused look on his face, "Right now?"

"Yeah, I'm almost positive." I sighed.

What next? And why did it have to happen now? I thought.

"Alright." Third said getting up. Then taking my hand to help me up, "Lets go."

And, POOF!

He was gone, all I could see of him is what I lacked to see of him before. Everything.

"Well," he said and I could feel his arm wrap around my waist, and I was being gently lifted off the ground. "Lets go and save the day again shall we?"

I smiled a sad, tired, smile.

Darvire and Lith weren't too far behind us, so it didn't take us too long to find them.

We flew low for about a mile and a half, then came across a scene that I wasn't hoping to see.

The Cats were there. All five of them.

Darvire was pinned to the ground, Winda, the leader, on top of him, ready to kill.

Lith couldn't get to Darvire, two of the male cats were in her way...

Something was wrong with her, her eyes were...

Glowing? When she moved, streaks of what looked like green lightning streaked out of the corners of her eyes.

"Third," I breathed, "Go help Lith, I'll do the rest."

"On it." Third said quietly.

I circled around in the forest, trying to get a batter position to attack Winda poised on Darvire's chest.

Got it.

I silently flew from the cover of the forest, I had at least one second before Winda saw me.

She screeched and pushed all her weight off of Darvire, leaping up in the air, and coming straight at me.

SMACK!

We hit the ground rolling. Darvire punched one of the Cats in the stomach, and kicked the other in the head to make a quick escape into the shadows.

Winda, still making unearthly cat-like noises, was clawing at every part of my body. She managed to make a huge gash right next to my rib cage.

I screamed in pain kicked her off of me, then grabbed a fist full of the hair on her head, and smashed it hard against a tree.

She bent over in dizzying pain, I kicked her hard in the back, knocking her to the ground.

She spun around quickly and swiped one long leg under mine and knocked me to the ground. She then did a nimble jump onto my body, pinning me down then. Her back feet resting painfully on my knees, one un-normal hand grasping my arms above my head.

Gosh, she was good at that.

"None of you ever learn, do you?" She said smugly. "Your such an easy opponent aren't you little Cati? Always controlled by anger."

I tried pushing her off me, but she had a good hold.

"I would think that you'd be the angry one," I said calmly, trying to get as much air as I could in me, "You're the one who's a freakish mutation that doesn't deserve to live on this planet. You, and your so-called 'family' are an abomination. I will be glad when one day your altered DNA get the better of you... and well, you know what happens then." I glared at her and spat the last words out with such venom I almost saw her wince.

But instead she hissed in my face. Her eyes going almost all black and her face stretching back to reveal every cat-like tooth in her head.

She raised her paw in the air, her razor-like claws gleaming in morning sun...

I knew then that I was going to die.

At least I went down fighting.

I laughed softly, and closed my eyes, awaiting my death to befall me.

At least I had seen Thirds face...

The weight on my chest was suddenly gone.

Why wasn't I... you know... dead?

I sat up and looked around. Behind me I saw Thirds sword swinging around in the air, going back and forth savagely. Darvire was standing right beside Third (from what I could tell) in a fierce battle position. The four male cats were in a... line? Jeez, what was this? The freaking military? How did he... ?

To my left Lith, eyes glowing bright green, had Winda pinned against a tree. The cat's eyes were filled to the brim with fear. Lith was saying something to her that I couldn't hear.

I realized then what all the males were staring at.

Lith.

They were... scared of her. Really freaking scared...

What did she do?

What was she doing?

Suddenly Lith dropped Winda to the ground, leaving a her catty imprint in the bark of the tree. The cat got up quickly and signaled her clan with a low growl. A look of defeat on her face, mixed with fear. She kept glancing back at Lith...

Winda and her clan lumbered off on all fours into the forest. Gone.

I heard a muffled charades of footsteps behind me.

"Cati!" It was Third. "Are you okay? I thought you were going to die!" He picked me up and hugged me against his invisible body. His hand stroking my hair.

"I'm fine," I said into his chest. He was holding my head there. "And I'm not going to die any time soon." I smiled weakly pushing away. My injury made itself known to me once again.

I winced, and put my hand onto where Winda had swiped me.

Blood.

Great.

I felt Thirds hand take mine and bring it downwards, then felt his fingers going over the wound.

"You said that you were fine..." Third said, almost to himself.

Darvire was standing in front of me. His eyes said he was confused with the slant of his eyebrows.

"You... you would have died for me..." He said quietly, slightly cynical. "Why?"

"Well, I couldn't just let you die. You mean a lot to Lith... and-"

"CATI!" Lith said running to me. Her eyes were back to plain ol' green.

She grabbed me into a HUGE hug. She was talking way too fast, all I heard was "You" And "Some animal".

"Wait," I said pushing away from her, not liking all the attention on me. "Would you mind explaining what happened when you know... your eyes were... oh, I don't know... GLOWING??? And how did you get Winda and her clan to leave??"

She took a step back, her body was fully healed. She moved easily, I could see that. Her leg didn't trouble her, and she didn't have any trouble hugging me to death with her arm.

"I don't know what happened." She said honestly. Then went on describing what she felt before it happened. "Like some animal was... inside of me... and all of a sudden... it came out... I don't know how else I can describe it..." She sighed and rubbed her eyes.

"And that's when I saw you then sped over there, Winda about to kill you. I think I just suddenly jolted over there, snagged her by the neck, and pinned her against that tree and... talked to her."

"What did you say?" Darvire asked, holding a ripped piece of his shirt against a wound.

Lith's face went blank...

"I don't know. I can't remember... But whatever I said it worked."

"Obviously." I said.

"Well," Third said, "We need to get out of here, find a place to treat our wounds and sleep a little."

Darvire shook his head, "Were nearly there." He said painfully, "Just another 10 miles or so. My people have healers, one of which is waiting there for us. We're better off if we just do our best to get there as quickly as possible."

"Okay," Third said, picking me up.

"What are you??" I started.

"I'm helping you."He said simply.

"Its just a little scratch..." I protested, trying to break free.

"No, its not. Just let me do this." He said sweetly grasping me tighter.
"Fine." I said stubbornly.

"On we go then." Lith said.
Darvire blinked, then slowly led the way onward.

All I was hoping for now was that we'd actually get to this 'meeting point' without something else horribly tragic happening.
Like that was going to happen.

Lith's Blog

I abruptly woke up; my eyes snapped open.

Something was off. Not wrong... but bad enough to make me wake up. I was getting vibes... Like something just popped out and scared you so your body sends out adrenaline.


Darvire noticed me. "You're awake?"

"Something happened to Cati... They were fine when I fell asleep..." I paused, trying to figure out the feelings in my gut. "Something... attacked them... But they're fine... I think."


"How do you know?" Darvire asked, amazed.

"The Bonds... when we're separated, they're stronger." I sighed. "Imagine they're like a bow string. Cati at one end and I'm at the other. The farther we're a part, the taunter the string. And when something happens--like if someone plucks one end of the string--there's a vibration the whole entire length. If something went bad for Cati, I get the vibes from her... Does that make sense?"


"Partly... yes I think so."

"I just don't know if they're alright..."


"Then we better hurry then to find out." Darvire said.

The forest flicked in and out of view faster then before (like an old movie tape), making me almost nauseated to the stomach.

The little twangs of vibes lessened as we got nearer to Cati and Unknown Third. I had opened up my link again, but theirs were turned off. My mind absently ran through a comment made of what seemed long ago... Darvire said he used to help dress his little sister... I wonder what she's like... They must all be beautiful... I was about to ask...

As a wild war cry of a wild cat ran through the night. My voice stuck in my throat.

Darvire had felt me tense up. "What's wrong?... its only a night beast."
I shook my head, "That's what you think." I said. I squirmed a bit. "We have to stop."
"Why? We're almost to Cati and Unknown Third."
"You just have to--" But my words were cut off as I was flung into the air and carelessly rolled through bushes.
A different cry ran through the air; fierce and terrifying; and it almost sent a chill to my bones. I knew the cry, and often was grateful its killing song was not sung for me.


But now it was.


My wounds throbbing painfully, I got up, preparing for them. There were five: 4 men and one woman. All were from southern countries. Two were relatives, the other siblings, and one loner. They all were black at one point. Their fighting talents and sense of balanced matched their feline characteristics.

That was why the Mistress kidnapped them to mutate all into ferosioius cats.

Abiodun and Demissie were father and son. We didn't exactly get along back at the Deman'eraz base, but we weren't enemies either. Abiodun (meaning fighter) is a man of his late thirties. Or I should say, WAS. He is now a sleek killer. The same with his son, who's name meant 'One who destroys'. They were said to be from the rainforests. Both stand 7ft tall, their legs mutated to those of a large feline. Hands have pads and claws that come out between. Black hair covers their body like that of a panther. Their faces have a promenant feline features with the mouths to match. They both had tails, and you all know where they are. These were the two first experiments of cats, and so they lacked many human characteristic they once had. Oddly, the two were more human in brains.


The siblings were different from these two. They might have looked more human, but their brains lay with their muscles. All had the lower legs built like a cat's. The eldest, Sundyata, was as wild as his name (who meant Hungry Lion). He was as huge as a body builder on steroids. His sandy hair was a wild mess that surrounded his head and shoulders. His eyes were round slits, his ears were of a lion's, and his mouth held an insane amount of sharp teeth. Sand colored hair covered his lower arms and legs and his lower torso. He too had a tail; a lion's tail. His nails of his hands were actually claws. He stood over 7 ft tall and was covered in odd, tan colored tattoos. His younger brother, Gahiji, the hunter, was built like Sundyata, but looked more like a cheetah.


Winda, the one who hurts, was the last of the five. She was tinier, and probably the youngest, but yet their leader.

She was small, nimble, quick, clever, and had no defined cat characteristics. She was the last of the experiments. She was just in the limbo line of feline and human. Winda had a wild mane of brown hair that covered up her very cattish ears. Her face was one of a young woman, but when she opened her mouth it changed. Brown hair fringed the sides of her face, the back and sides of her neck and receded down her body. She was naked but for the fact the hair covered up the necessary parts. Her hands were different. The hand part was elongated a couple more inches then normal so if she crouched down, she could run on all fours without arching her back. She had extractable claws in both her hands and feet. Winda was known for the killing cries. The others just mimicked hers, but you could always tell when it was Winda yowling: it was like a panther howling like a wolf with an eerie echo behind it.


And I was looking at her now.

"Winda..." I said, as if we were in a formal meeting. "What a pleasure." She looked like a crazy Amazon warrior cat lady.

She leapt down from the tree above me to land softly on the ground. "Ah, Lith." She looked over me, with a half hidden curious look. "You look awful dear." You could see her canine's as she talked. "Sorry we had to meet in these circumstances."

We were friends back at the base. We chatted and sometimes got bites to eat together, but she had the mood swings of a pregnant woman: she would be friends with you one day--dear enemies the next. I could see which one she was now.

I shrugged. "Somethings can't be helped."

Winda looked thoughtful. "It could have been if you hadn't ran away." She pointed out.

"Point taken." I sighed and took a big gulp of air. My wounds hurt. "So what are you here for? To take me in or annihilate us?"


"Finally an interesting turn." She folded her arms behind her back. "Well, the Mistress has strictly ordered us to kill everyone but you." She smiled. "Nice, huh? You were always a formidable opponent, and I have to admit that I did look up to you. I was quite glad that I didn't have to kill you."


My blood ran cold.

"What happened to Cati and Unknown Third?" My voice came out in a whisper of accusation.

Winda smirked. Her night blue eyes flashed. "You think we killed them? Not to fear dear; their blood isn't on our hands." She paused dramatically as I sighed with relief, "But it might be on the Haprie girls'."

Oh... no!!! "Those sick! Twisted! Daughters of--!!..." I hissed disgustedly.

Anger suddenly boiled up from the depths of me, cutting off my next sentence as adrenaline coursed my veins and diminished my pains. Some part of my brain told me to take control of the situation, but this new found feeling told me to let go.
It was unheard of a Special to get mad like this--we bottled it and channeled it into fighting energy. Specially for the Elite Specials. We might act mad and taunt, but never did a real rage over come us. That was why we were so good.

I gasped. I couldn't understand myself. My clenched fists unclenched, my breathing started to calm, and I spread out my legs so I was evenly balanced though out my body. A weird calm was sent through my body. One thought passed my consciousness: 'I must not get caught. I must escape. Survive.'

Distantly I heard Winda asking, "Uh, Lith? Are you coming peacefully or not?"

"Try not." I distantly heard myself saying in a soft menacing breath.

I heard when a person goes into a rage, they started seeing red.

I was seeing green.

Winda sounded huffed. "Oh, come on, Lith! The Mistress said not to kill you, but it never meant I couldn't hurt you." She paused, "What's wrong with your eyes?"

The next was all a dream.

I had clenched my hands abruptly, darted forward with a wild war cry, so unlike myself, and nailed Winda in her stomach with a fist, winding her. With a surprising force, she had flew back, the look of surprise written all over her face, and landed 20 ft in a bush.

Two loud growls around me had told me two other Cats were around. I crouched down, growling myself. I was unstoppable, powerful, and a beast myself. Nothing could stop me.

Far off, I heard Darvire yell, "LITH!!!!"

The beast in me turned and started to run with amazing agility towards the cry of help, leaping over bushes, on to tree branches, flying through leaves; repeatedly.

But I was unused to this power and didn't notice three others following me.

I broke out of dense clump of vines, and saw Darvire desperately fighting his own against Sundyata and Gahiji. He was constantly popping in and out of their shadows, landing blows, but the Cats were constantly moving, and landing more hits then he was. He was bleeding from the wounds. He didn't know how to fight these two. Sundyata managed to hit him over the head--accidently--with his tail, and Darvire spun around, unbalanced. The brothers took the advantage and pinned him to the ground with their massive hands.

"You little--!" A familiar voice screeched behind me as she tackled me from behind. We tumbled and rolled, and I ended up with my face planted in the dirt. Two pairs of rough, padded hands nailed my arms to the ground. Hands grabbed my hair and yanked my head upward. I briefly got a look at Winda's feet before a harsh blow landed across my face. A normal humans skull would have shattered on that impact; mine only smarted painfully. I tasted blood in my mouth. Winda raised my head higher, pulling hair, and straining my neck. "If you ever try pulling something like that on me EVER. AGAIN. I will do more then give you a love tap, you hear me, you wrench?!" She hissed, her breath smelt of raw meat. She dropped my head. I heard her order the other two cats, father and son, not to let me get away.
"I'm going to deal with the... thing."

I gasped a lung full of dirt.

Darvire! My self thought through to the beast outside of me. A sudden wave of rage and strength coursed through me. I got my legs underneath me, swung my arms, twisting my body upwards, spinning the Cats off my me. They went crashing into trees.
I started towards Darvire and Winda, as she walked casually towards him. She slowly drew out her long claws in one hand. Looking over her shoulder, she looked back at me with an amuzed face.
But the other two tumbled in front of me, blocking my path.

I tensed my mucles and tried to jump over the two, but they reacted too quickly, jumping up to catch my feet and slam me into the ground. My head cracked against a rock.

NO!!!!!! NO NO NO NO NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rage boiled, but it could do nothing as Winda stood over Darvire, poised, hand raised, poised for the perfect kill...