Sweat pooled under Amethyst's body. Each pore leaked precious moisture away in tainted streams over dried, scab like patches of stinking gore. She was on her knees, breathing heavily as the last of the owl-men fell. She was trying to remain upright while every muscle was on the verge of collapse.

Garba was hunched over the remains of a shredded corpse. One hand on the wall, the other on his knee. His eye was narrowed and his breath was loud. Exousía was lying flat on the floor, her sword tied to her main hand.

"I am... rethinking... that we... might be.. in Hell." Exousía squeezed between breaths.

Amethyst grunted in response. She stifled a cough and looked down at her own pooling sweat and the viscera that was molding to her hands.

"Back a bit..." Garba's eye was fixed on Amethyst. "And rest."

"I am not opposed." Exousía muttered.

Amethyst looked up to Garba, then back to the ground. She ordered her mental commands, but her body remained motionless. Exousía's hand was outstretched. Amethyst took it and rose slowly to her feet. They passed back into the previous building. Amethyst's eyes glazed over the remains, careful only to not step on one of the many body parts.

Amethyst slowly slid down the wall. She moved her tail with her hand and rested backwards. The moment her back hit the wall, she started to hear Tenya's voice.

"Amethyst!" Shouted Tenya.

Amethyst quickly stood up, but Garba and Exousía were both asleep. She tried to wake them while Tenya's voice reverberated in its plea for help. She grabbed Exousía's sword but it was too heavy. She couldn't pick it up. She tried to drop it, but the wraps along the hilt started to wriggle. They slithered up along her arms, the ends morphing into snake heads. She tried to scream, but a feathery hand gripped her tightly around her throat.

She tried to break free as she started to cry. The owl creature had wrapped itself entirely around her. Several other hands of many varieties gripped tightly to her.

Hundreds of voices called out all around her. "We have caught you!"

Amethyst struggled to turn her head, like it was in a tub of moist clay. She could see a mountain of corpses that formed the body of the Kraken. She was gripped by one of its tentacles, the suction cups replaced by flailing arms reaching out for her. She was dropped and fell directly towards the creature's mouth like an opening.

Amethyst jolted awake. She looked around frantically. Exousía was curled on the ground close to her. Garba was a few feet away. His back was facing her and he had slow rhythmic breathing. She let her head rest back against the stone wall and closed her eyes, unable to fall back asleep. Her muscles were aching and her head hurt. Her mouth was dry and her throat was sore. She remained still. The world around her was silent.

Exousía whimpered in her sleep.

Garba snored lightly.

Amethyst remained still.

§

They had been moving cautiously and quietly, passing through several buildings and had not seen any owl-men since their last battle. They labored slowly through each corridor, stopping frequently, prepared for the next skirmish.

"I smell something." Garba rasped.

Amethyst and Exousía groaned.

"Like a feast, with a lot of water?" Exousía held out her water pouch. She shook it around vigorously, but not a drop was left.

"No, I am catching a hint of Wa Chini." Garba was fixed forward.

Amethyst smiled as her shoulders slouched. She covered her mouth and whispered "Thank the gods."

"It is definitely him." Garba whiffed deeply, then nodded his head.

Amethyst took the first cautious step. Garba and Exousía fell in line behind her. They moved swiftly through another few tunnels. Though cautious, they hurried. There wasn't any sign or trace of any other Owl-men along the way. They crossed the threshold of one final building.

There were the bodies of a dozen or more of the owl-men. They had become a small barrier into the next room. Their piled corpses were rigid and sticky, blocking the passage. On the other side there were at least a dozen more bodies. Though Amethyst had only counted the whole torsos. Gore and entrails had decorated the walls and ceiling. The remnants of the creatures were a mural of battle.

Beyond, the three came to a much larger tunnel. Along the floor, was the thin luminescent line that stretched off into the dark. Amethyst looked around while Garba sniffed about. There was an open street, more than just a tunnel. Owl-men lined the street against the building walls, their torn and ripped bodies painted nearly everything blacker than the shadows. Only the luminescent line remained untouched.

Garba turned. He nodded his head and started walking.

Amethyst followed wordlessly. She was light headed, her vision was dark around the edges. She imagined the battle and how difficult it must have been to crawl through the streets. Her friend's blood soaked bodies must have felt as heavy as hers.

The line ended at the archway to a massive building. Tall columns stood cradling the ceiling. Crumbled statues guarded the entrance as stone stairs carved the path inside. The walls had been scraped bare, but not flat. There were still engravings partially visible.

As the last of the luminescent line faded away, Amethyst made her first steps inside. She could hear her comrade's voices ahead. Nervously she followed Garba as they crept towards the noises. Amethyst peeked in with Garba and saw Tenya with Wa Chini, Nuru, and Stochastís.

"Friends!" Wa Chini exclaimed, running over to greet them as they entered.

Tenya dashed just behind Wa Chini. Stochastís remained sitting with Nuru by his side. She was wrapping cloth around his arm. Amethyst lost focus on them when Tenya wrapped herself around Amethyst. Wa Chini had placed his hand on Amethyst's shoulder briefly.

Tenya nuzzled into Amethyst, her arms wrapped firmly in place. Amethyst gripped as tightly as she could to Tenya. Reluctantly, Amethyst loosened her grip and let Tenya slowly peel herself away. They had stuck together slightly. Amethyst pushed Tenya's matted hair out of her face, her features were darkened and her face pale, making for a ghostly sight.

Tenya's hands were trembling in Amethyst's. Her chest armor was missing and her clothes had been ripped across the stomach. Amethyst's hand explored three ridges which had been left on the skin. Tenya pressed her hand against Amethyst's. The ridges started just above the second to last rib of her left side in line with her arm at rest. They stretched diagonally and ended at her right hip.

Amethyst let her head rest against Tenya's. They held each other momentarily before Amethyst broke away.

Amethyst looked at Wa Chini, his face was sunken, and his eyes were hardly open. She put a hand on his face, scratching lightly at the flaking blood on his cheek. A rumbling purr resonated through the silence of the cavern. Amethyst could hear a much more subdued purr from Garba as well as the two cats continued to cling to each other's side.

Amethyst, holding Tenya's hand, shambled her way over to where Stochastís was sitting. Exousía had already sat across from him and Nuru, who had finished wrapping his arm. Nuru was flush, her lips had started to crack. Her eyes were dark and hollow. The bags under them were deep and there was blood streaked across her face, thin flaky brown blood. Amethyst nodded shortly and Nuru scooted herself just a couple feet away. She laid her head down onto her satchel and immediately started to snore.

Finally, she looked at Stochastís. the cloth that had been wrapped around his arm had started to dampen red. The small patch was just on the top, just below the wrist. He had been soaked with the Owl-men's filth. His fine white clothes stained black. His eyes were cast downwards, his head was turned away from Amethyst.

She sat down right in front of him. His eyes wandered up to hers, followed by his head. Face to face, looking each other in the eyes. Amethyst let the hint of a smile tug at her lips, and she placed her hand onto Stochastís's arm, just above his wound.

He had the look of a boy about to cry, but no tears came. He let his head drop as he placed his free hand onto Amethyst's. He gripped her hand firmly, then let it go. He laid back where he was and rested his head on his uninjured arm.

She looked towards Wa Chini, he and Garba had pressed themselves against a wall and were sitting together. Wa Chini's head was resting on Garba's shoulder. Both of the cats were completely asleep.

Tenya was looking at the entrance to the building, facing away from the party. Her head swiveled from side to side. Amethyst grabbed Tenya's arm causing her to whip around, eyes wide. They darted back and forth. then focused on Amethyst's. Amethyst pulled on Tenya's hand. She resisted for a few moments, then dropped to her knees. Amethyst patted her own leg, gesturing for Tenya to lay down. Tenya took one more look away towards the entrance, then let herself lay down.

She closed her eyes. Her breath slowed. and she was quickly asleep. Amethyst rested her back against the same wall Wa Chini and Garba had just a few feet away. She let her fingers wander through Tenya's hair and around her ear and neck. She traced the line of her jaw and admired her features. Even covered in muck, Tenya somehow remained beautiful.

Exousía was by Stochastís, her eyes drooping. So were Amethyst's. Exousía jolted and looked around frantically before her head slowly dropped. She let herself down and was quickly snoring. Each blink lasted longer and longer as Amethyst tried to keep awake.

§

The chambers of the palace structure were large. Each step echoed slightly regardless of how slowly they tried to walk. The stink of the streets before had been subdued. Amethyst wasn't interested in the plethora of architecture around her, she was focused instead on each step ahead of her. Her stomach roared and her throat was barren. Her head pounded and her legs were infirm. Amethyst was dragging herself along behind Garba and Wa Chini, who had taken the lead deeper into the palace.

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

Tenya was just behind Amethyst and Stochastís was near the back with Nuru and Exousía. Their path was cleared, debris and rocks swept cleanly to the sides. Amethyst's mind wandered in the dark halls. She pretended she was walking along a beach at night. The crashing waves in her ears with each beat of her heart. Hypnotized, Amethyst walked right into Wa Chini.

Tenya knocked into her and she felt someone bump into her too. Wa Chini and Garba had their ears up. They looked around before they put their ears back. Garba glanced around before his narrow yellow eye fixed on Amethyst. He slipped past Wa Chini and started to whisper into Amethyst's ear.

"There is a beast ahead. I can hear it breathing, but I cannot catch a scent of it."

Amethyst remained quiet. She looked backwards at the rest of the group then to Garba. He rested the side of his head against hers as he continued to whisper.

"I shall go ahead and see."

Amethyst thought about it. He was quiet and careful. A logical choice to scout as he had before. On the other hand, he was tired and one slip up could lead to his and their death.

Garba didn't move. Amethyst closed her eyes and nodded her head. Garba slipped past Wa Chini and disappeared into the black veil. She let her head droop. Why had he told her? Why did he wait for her response?

The group had found themselves resting and some napping when Garba's yellow eye appeared suddenly. He kneeled down in front of Amethyst, but whispered just loud enough to include everyone.

"There was... a Lion. It had the face of a man and a tail like a scorpion. Large naked wings like a bat."

"Manticore." Stochastís replied. "That would be a manticore."

"What do we do?" Amethyst asked Stochastís.

Stochastís pondered. His hand stroked his chin. "What was it doing?"

"Sleeping."

"What did the chamber look like?"

"Crumbled walls surrounding it. I could see stars above, but the chamber was quite bright, like in the shade on a sunny day. Lastly, there was a door, one that was still intact."

"Could be guarding the door, maybe that is where the book is. "

"The book does not matter." Garba said coldly. "There is but one direction to go."

Stochastís nodded his head. "If we remain quiet, maybe we can sneak around it."

"And if it wakes?" Nuru inquired.

Amethyst was the first to stand in the silence. "Let us do our best."

The Manticore was much larger than a lion. She had seen creatures of the Manticore's size before. The gray one horned creatures which had stomped around the Savanna lands south of Ashara were her first thought.

It was curled up like a cat, its wings wrapped around its back. They acted like a blanket which covered its head slightly. The tail had a barb like a spear at its tip. A stinger like that of a scorpion.

Its deep rumbling breaths, like growls of a dragon, emanated from its chiseled form. Each muscle pulsated and wiggled as the creature slumbered. Amethyst was fixed on the one paw she could see. It was at least as wide as she was tall and the claws at its tip looked like the heads of a ballista bolt.

Garba was the first step into its lair. He carefully plotted each step to fall in time with the rumbling form. Then Wa Chini, then Amethyst. She matched each careful and deliberate step. Her breath was shallow, shakily exiting as she trembled past the beast's hulking form.

The chamber was wide enough to fit at least five of the beasts sleeping, but it was laying close to the door on the other side. As Amethyst neared the hulking Manticore, she could feel her bones vibrate with its breathing. Her vision was narrowing and her heart was fluttering. She stumbled to the ground and stopped breathing as she stared at the floor. The rhythm remained unbroken.

At the door, the group gathered. The Manticore was still sleeping and they were still alive. Amethyst's heart was frantic as Garba tried to open the door. The door wouldn't budge... locked.

Silence.

Amethyst's heart dropped. She slowly started to turn around. Standing and stretching, the Manticore turned to look at the group. Its face mimicked that of a humans. The proportions were off, and the placement askew. Eyes like magma pierced Amethyst's heart as she failed to catch her breath. It stood more than three times her height and its teeth were exposed in what was a permanent smile on its face.

The manticore's head tilted as it stepped between the group and the way back from where they came. "Behind... me." Its growl rumbled.

Amethyst saw around its neck was a key. She stepped forward and bowed her head slightly. "Master Manticore, we apologize, we seek to continue past you."

Deep, yet joyous response. "Impossible."

Amethyst hesitated at the sounds it made. "Do you have a name?" Amethyst asked, her trembling voice nearly giving out at the end.

The head of the Manticore swiveled unnaturally around like an owl. "Skotóno, but it serves you little, for you shall not leave here." The grin it wore widened. a forked tongue played about its yellow and brown teeth.

Amethyst didn't move. A flash of heat overtook her as her face flushed. "Surely, if you can speak..." She paused letting herself take a couple breaths. "We can reason a deal."

The manticore laid down like a cat. It yawned and looked back at the party. It remained silent. Its pupils had dilated to black spheres.

Tenya bumped Amethyst's side. She grabbed the hilt of Tenya's dagger. Her grip was tight and she started to pour her magic into her hand.

The Smile widened further, the eyes narrowed slightly.

Amethyst rotated the dagger in her hand. "Skotóno, Please, let's be reasonable." She tightened the grip on the hilt as she waited for the response.

Skotóno remained unblinking.

Amethyst saw the slight wiggle of its backside, the tensing of the paws. She heard the pounding of her heart in her ears as she focused in on its eyes. She watched as they flicked slightly. His head twitching forward. Its breath slowed, and the last of its magma eyes were replaced with the Inky voids.

Both sprang into action. The Manticore leapt forward and Amethyst threw the dagger. A burst of wind exploded from her hand with a loud pop. The knife flew towards the leaping creature as Amethyst rolled out of the way of its crushing pounce.

The weapon she threw sliced through the Manticore's mane, missing its face by a hair. The knife continued as the air blasted the Manticore with little effect. The knife, however, ripped through the thick membrane of its wing.

The Manticore bucked, its roar echoed through the chamber. Amethyst covered her ears quickly, but the cry had left her disoriented. Garba had dashed ahead and jumped onto the Manticore's side just as it ended its wailing.

Wa Chini slid under the body. His claws like razors, sliced into the creature's thick hide. Skotóno moved to swat or crush Wa Chini, but was not fast enough. Wa Chini rolled and crawled over to another leg and started biting there.

Tenya rushed forward just after Wa Chini. Her sword slashed at the leg opposite to Wa Chini's focus. The cut forced Skotóno to lose focus on Wa Chini. Its black eyes looked for Tenya, but she had run around to its back side.

Exousía, whose sword was still tied to her hand had let out a roar of her own and rushed forward as Skotóno turned his back to her to chase after Wa Chini and Tenya. She hacked at the tail of the Manticore, but her sword clinked off of the hard scales.

Stochastís held a small sword in one hand and the golden cylinder which was extended into a spear in the other. He remained in front of Nuru. His body shifted from side to side, Mirroring the movements of the Manticore.

The Manticore bucked and swung its paws wildly. Its tail tried striking at Garba while he was holding onto its Mane. He dropped slightly, nearly falling off. Exousía continued her barrage on the tail while Wa Chini and Tenya took turns attacking Skotóno's legs.

Out of weapons, Amethyst took up rocks, using the air she could control to launch the rocks at the wings of the Manticore. The outside of the wings were like Iron shields. The rocks bouncing harmlessly off. Amethyst refocused her attention on the hole she had made. She waited until she could strike the inside of the wing.

Tenya dodged as the Manticore swung at her. She rolled over the ground and onto her feet. The momentum had carried her just outside of the reach of the Manticore.

Wa Chini jumped at Skotóno's throat while he was low to the ground. The Manticore jumped backwards quickly, nearly crushing Exousía. Wa Chini rushed forward and did not relent in his vicious attack on Skotóno legs. Tenya continued her barrage as well.

Garba dropped to the ground, His hand raised high as he rushed towards the door.

Exousía stabbed at the tail, jamming her sword in between the plates protecting it. Skotóno sat back on the monstrous trunks of its legs to try to crush Exousía, who had left her sword in the tail of the Manticore and was running around towards Amethyst.

Seeing her opportunity, Amethyst heaved a rock, propelled by a loud burst towards Skotóno's damaged wing. She missed the hole she had aimed for, striking a support for the wing itself. A sickening crunch was followed by another glass shattering roar. Amethyst dry heaved as the world around her started spinning. She dropped to her knees and tried to cover her ears. Her hands came back wet with bright red blood.

Exousía grabbed Amethyst's face. She was talking, but Amethyst couldn't hear her, she saw red in one of her ears as well. Exousía put her knife in Amethyst's hand. She pointed at the manticore, then pointed a finger at her own head. Amethyst nodded and gathered her energy up, the dagger resting firmly in her hand. She saw Exousía put her hands up, then make a gesture she didn't understand. Exousía's eyes widened. She pointed and shouted.

Amethyst followed her gaze to see that more of those owl-men had started to run into the chamber, a hoard of them. Amethyst started to turn towards them. Exousía grabbed her and pointed to the door. Nuru was opening it. She looked at the Manticore which was throwing its head up. Tenya and Wa Chini had made it to the door and were gesturing for Amethyst to run over.

Amethyst couldn't see straight. She stumbles, helped along by Exousía who was helping pull Amethyst along. Amethyst dropped to the ground and looked back at the approaching hoard. They were gaining quickly. Amethyst launched the dagger with a burst of wind. She felt the pop, but still no sound.

Amethyst's vision became increasingly distorted. Her head, the world, everything was spinning and it was spinning quickly. Running in a straight or consistent line was impossible as Amethyst tried to run towards the doors that refused to remain in place. Exousía stopped and turned around, Amethyst stopped and turned too. Exousía held her arm up and Amethyst saw a ball of fire growing in front of Exousía's palm.

The ball flew from her hand and exploded against the rocks above the entrance to the cavern. Owl-men caught fire almost immediately. They continued after Exousía and Amethyst as well as the Manticore, whose attention had shifted to the owl-men. The manticore beat its mighty wings and knocked several of the creatures into the wall. Then The manticore lifted up into the air and flew up and away from the battle.

Tenya was at the door, still waving for them to hurry through. As Amethyst and Exousía got through the door, it was shut behind them. Wa Chini, Stochastís and Garba fought to close the door. Exousía and Tenya were rolling a large rock towards the door with Garba and Wa Chini's help.

Amethyst fell to the ground. She could feel her vocal cords vibrating as she tried to focus on one spot unsuccessfully. She couldn't keep still as she riled around on the floor. Nuru was over top of Amethyst. Her lips were moving, but Amethyst couldn't tell what she was saying. Tenya appeared and put her hand over Amethyst's mouth and put a finger to her lips.

The Vibrations in Amethyst's throat finally made sense, but she had no control over them. Nuru cupped her hands over Amethyst's ears. She started rubbing the area firmly. Amethyst felt her head jerk on its own before a massive wave of pain crashed into her consciousness. Amethyst heard a few pops and a pinch, then the sound came back to her, not quite as clear as before.

She laid on the floor shuttering. She was on the verge of tears, or maybe way past them. The world slowly re-centered itself. Her nausea remained, but was subdued. Tenya had put Amethyst's head in her lap, but Amethyst couldn't recall when.

There was the sound of running water. Amethyst slowly sat up to see that Stochastís had found a crack in the wall which had let a small gush of water run down to the floor where a puddle had formed. He stabbed at the hole, letting a bit more water come out.

Stochastís tasted it, then pulled out a metal bowl. He filled it and brought it to Amethyst. She sat up more, resting against Tenya slightly. She looked in to see specks of dust and dirt. She put her hand in the water and focused on that debris. When she pulled her hand out of the pot, the water came with it, leaving the dirt behind. Stochastís quickly rinsed the pan out then Amethyst put the water back.

He held the pan in front of her and waited. She took it and slowly drank from it, then handed it back to Stochastís, who gave it to Nuru. They drank as much cold water as they could. They rested and tried to scrub what they could off their skin. Amethyst could feel her energy multiplying. She felt her headache receding. She pulled water out of the spring directly and helped to fill everyone's containers as they made a makeshift camp to rest for a while.

Amethyst was sitting near the spring. There was moss and Algae that had grown around the water. The trickling sound calmed her nerves. On the opposite wall, far away from the door they had come though, she could see a statue. It stood defending the entrance further into the rocks. A snake coiled around. Emeralds for eyes, and golden fangs. It wasn't eating itself, but still left Amethyst unnerved.