Naomi placed her hands on the ground as she pushed through the troughs outlining the badlands. Tracking came easy to her, but the winds and storms that surrounded the edges of the badlands made it difficult even with her skills. The drive to find her ward was the only thing making her not regret shoving herself into the desert head on. It was a good thing as well, it gave Naomi plenty of time to catch up with the group as they constantly made camp at sundown. Naomi trained herself well to go without such things if needed, it helped when scouting larger prey.

She felt so robotic now, as if nothing else mattered except finding Garin. It did not help when she became aware of what she had done to trap him and his friends. Under the influence of the Touak, she had helped bring trust to them long enough for Dr. Hawter to try and capture them for his horrid experiments. It was by luck that Garin was able to break himself away from them and escape. Had she still been under that monsters thumb she may have even caught him.

There was something about Garin that even she did not seem to understand though. It showed before though, whenever his friends were in danger he showed some sort of inner fire that, despite anything, would not stop him from saving them. Naomi sobbed a little at the thought of abandoning her friend, hoping that his comrades kept him safe long enough for her to catch up. Sifting through the sand with increased vigor she caught a glimpse of something familiar. A canyon came up ahead, and at the entrance to its valley a peculiar looking stone seemed to be moving toward it.

Renewed with hope she let the warrior trance take her as she pushed herself faster.

…

Terra let herself trail behind the group for a while, giving them space as they made their way to the Green land that wait them a good couple of miles ahead. She focused on the desert, letting her mind drift as she let the numbness of her thoughts echo her mood. Maybe she was always meant to be different? She thought to herself, waiting for a response from anyone. Feor waited in her mind, not interrupting her thoughts with sage wisdom or pacifistic knowledge.

It irritated her more than anything, as if it wasn’t enough to let her think but rather think that she was okay thinking this way at all. Hearing her say that to herself, Terra began to realize that she may have gone mad there for a moment. She decieded that she didn’t really care how crazed she sounded. To hell with logic in this place! She was a monster bred by a horrid race of insects, why should she try to hold onto silly thoughts of normalcy?

Yet they lingered, the thoughts of being accepted, by anyone really.

It was as if the need to be accepted triumphed any imperative in her mind, including her incessant thoughts surrounding her condition. Even if she was a hybrid, she wasn’t a Skiritix like those lowly monsters were.

As if to answer her, the desert seemed to come alive with a particularly strange sight. At first Terra looked at the large figure as a mirage, since it seemed so far away at first. However, when a mesa was demolished by the so called mirage, crumbling into the sand, Terra reconsidered.

“GARIN, SARA, YOU’RE GOING TO WANT TO SEE THIS!” she screamed to the top of her lungs, carrying the clicking nature of her voice with it. Both of her friends turned to her and to where she pointed. She ran up to them as they began to process what they were seeing.

“Ah hell,” Garin said as he looked at the wreckage of sand start to turn in their direction. Sara locked her tendrils around Ella as she understood what Garin was seeing.

“Just what the hell is that thing?” Terra said, feeling left out of the loop.

“That is a Klaktio… if I remember right.” Garin said with a hint of dread on his lips.

“What?” Sara looked at him incredulously, her eye brows raised in comedic fashion.

“It’s a massive herbivore, according to Melchior, they can cause earthquakes which if that thing is kicking up that much of a fuss…” Garin trailed off as the ground began to vibrate with vigor, “Yah we should go.”

They group kicked up their feet as they ran in full sprint, a variable storm of sand rushed to meet them. The ground became more violent as the tremors shot in their direction. Soon Terra was able to make out the cracks as she side stepped past the gaps that were forming around her. Garin shot forward ahead of her, his tendrils accelerating him faster than the cracks could keep up. Sara matched her pace, but the weight of Ella on her back was starting to show.

In a burst of chaos, the ground erupted underneath Terra, a massive scorpion met her as she fought to keep the creature from grasping her with meaty pincers. The creature was surprisingly fast, snapping at her in seconds and striking her not with a stinger but what looked like a massive club tail. Deftly she dodged the blows, striking the face of the monstrosity. The fatigue from running began to take hold though, and she could feel her strikes getting slower from exhaustion.

Just as she tried to block the next attack, Terra saw a flash of purple race across the face of the great beast. It stopped assaulting her and immediately went for the blur, swifter and faster than Terra could make out. She finally saw the thing shoot up into the sky. Its wings raised, it dive bombed the scorpion straight center. She could her a crunch as the scorpion screeched, snapping at nothing with its meaty claws. It made one last lunge at Terra, who dodged it easily as it slowed to a stop, the tremors with him.

Terra sat down as the fatigue hit her, breathing in as she smiled at the mess in front of her. She felt alive, and strangely okay with the destruction in front of her. It worried her, but she was too tired to process it at the moment. She instead took notice of the creature that defeated the scorpion, who began to move towards her. Terra was tensed by this, but as the light dimmed, she could finally make it out.

It was Ella, but something was very different with the way she looked. Her kind face and small beak that she had were replaced with a dagger like snout, with eyes as scarlet as the desert sands. Her wings were much more profound, with strands of blood red feathers mixed with her purple hue. Blood was dripping from her beak as well, and a hunger was in her eyes that Terra recognized immediately.

Whatever was in the blood had something to do with the Skiritix, and it affected Ella. She looked down at her, the hunger still present in her eye. Terra prepared herself as she felt Ella lunge at her.

“Thank you!” Ella hugged her with all of her might, which crushed Terra even more thanks to the blood swimming through Ella’s veins.

“Umm, you’re welcome?” Terra felt confusion unlike anything she had so far, but returned the hug in fear she might be suffocated.

Ella released her and Terra could see the old Ella, even with the new features. Her demeanor changing, she smiled as she pointed to the scorpion.

“My kill, I get first meat!” She shot at the corpse as she dug into one of the claws, her new beak breaking through the carapace easily. Garin and Sara looked at her, then back at Terra who through her hands and tendrils in the air.

“Don’t ask me, I got nothing.”

“Uhuh, sure.” Sara gave her a sarcastic look as she moved to gather some meat from the giant beast. Garin however went to Terra, his eyes staring straight through her.

“Recognized something didn’t you?” he looked at her, serious and adamantly.

Terra felt a strange need to tell him exactly what she thought, even though she knew it might be a bad choice. Succumbing to the need, she spoke, “I saw something familiar yes, a strange hunger.”

“Like you felt,” She nodded to him, still feeling the drive to tell him. She fought back the urge as he released his gaze on her and went to join the others in their scavenging project. Gasping as though she had been running a mile, which she might have, she went to the beast helping the group load up the creature in parts. After she was done gorging, she saw Ella making a strange bag from the beast’s carapace. It looked to be a cart without wheels, which in the desert wasn’t a bad idea. Helping with its construction, she bent pieces using her tendrils, until the cart was smooth underneath. Wrapping the meat and supplies, Terra took it upon herself to drag the cart accompanied by Ella.

Ella stuck to her, the cheery outlook started to rub off on Terra as she spoke to her.

“Thanks, without you they would have brought me to my sister.”

“Your sister? Whats wrong with her?”

“I forgot, I did not tell you this yet. When I met Garin, I was supposed to lead him into a trap my sister made. But I knew it wasn’t the thing to do, my sister has something wrong with her. It was the blood now I’m sure of it.”

“That black blood? The one they forced you to drink.”

“Yes the very same, it made her so hungry some days she would lash out at me. Then she started feeding it to the others, first her soldiers, then her hunters. Soon everyone had a taste except me.” She shook her head at the thought.

“Ella, where did your sister get the black blood from?”

Ella shook her head, “She never told me, only mentioned it was from her greatest kill.” Terra nodded, convinced now that the blood was from the Skiritix. She did not tell Ella this, but she questioned how it made her feel.

“It is like no matter what I eat, I am always hungry for more. The Klak-klak was good though, the hungry feeling isn’t as bad now. Also, I feel strong, so strong. See?” She took a rock in her claws and crushed it with a great deal of force. Ella smiled at that, “I feel strong, and fast as the wind. But I scare myself, because the hunger comes faster when I hunt. Seeing you snapped me out of the craving though, so it worked out.” She smiled wider, and Terra could make out smaller teeth inside her beak, teeth she knew were not there before.

“That feeling you have Ella, I have it too.”

Ella turned slowly to her as the statement settled in, her eyes growing worried.

“You feel as I do?” Terra nodded as Ella began to piece together what that meant. Her smile faded, a sheen of fear showed in her eyes as she held her stomach.

“Will i… become you?” She said slowly.

Terra shook her head, “No, I had something controlling me, forcing me to do things against my will. You Ella, you just have to feed that urge, you wont become like me.”

Ella smiled at the remark, but the worry showed regardless, “Thank you Terra, it is nice to share this feeling with someone, even if it is a bad one.” She walked ahead to talk to Garin as Sara caught up with her.

“What did you two talk about?”

“I asked how she was doing, she told me she was feeling hungry.” Terra said nonchalantly, smiling back at Sara as she met her pace.

“So, any idea what happened to her?” Sara’s demeanor became serious in a moment. Terra picked up on the vibe and responded casually, “The blood they fed her, im guessing it causes a transformation when ingested. She’s more like a predator now that’s for sure. Stronger and faster, that’s the way she described it to me.”

Sara processed her response, and Terra could make out a purple mark on her blinking. She knew an internal conversation when she saw one, so she whistled to herself as Sara stared off. Terra noticed she was very good at whistling, since her inner mandibles clicked air as she spoke. She could go pretty loud, which hurt Sara’s ears enough to snap her back to their conversation.

“Damn, girl warn someone before you do that!” Sara held her head as if it were still ringing. Terra smiled wide, letting Sara see the inner mandibles where her teeth were.

“Can’t help it, genes and all. Sorry if I got carried away though.” Terra really was, but at the same time it was fun to mess with Sara. It made her feel more human, laughing at silly things. She knew she wasn’t but she remembered how it felt to be one. She picked up the sack she had been dragging, determined to meet up with the rest of the group as she made out a hint of green landscape in the distance. Garin and Ella were talking quietly enough that Terra could not make out their mumbling, but she tried anyway as Ella still seemed a little upset from earlier. Ella hid her beak as they spoke to each other, which made it impossible to make out what she was saying. Garin however didn’t bother hiding his voice so Terra made out his words.

“I’m sure the hunger will pass,”

“No, I don’t care how it looks Ella.”

“We’ll get the help you need, it won’t get worse I promise.”

Terra sighed, there was no way Garin could promise anything like that. If he could she would be right there with Ella asking him how. Ella was looking for comfort it seemed, still dealing with her new change and the hunger. Terra grew bored with it as she walked past them. She focused on the horizon where the jaded jungle awaited them. It was so close she began to make out the smaller details. Creatures climbed through the trees, rustling the living jade as it swayed with their passing.

As she got closer she made out the creatures, tall lanky beings with strange glowing hides. They hopped from branch to branch, intermingling with their brethren as they shot deeper into the forest. She must of scared them off with her presence, it seemed to come standard being what she was. The jungle floor came into view and she could make out the rock formations much clearer now.

Padded earth surrounded the jungle, which was much different than what she was used to. The trees she had seen before, being living stone that they were, but the ground was something familiar. Feor came to her as she pondered the weird earth she stumbled upon.

“Oh, it is like your memories!” She exclaimed, her mood very cheery.

“My memories, of what?”

“Your home, the one you call Earth.

She was right, it was just like something she would see in a jungle back home, but the thing seemed so off on this planet. It was hard to think that their worlds shared something, being as different as they were.

“It is a good thing yes? I enjoy these jungles, untamed as they are they still show what life can bring without interference. It is a good reminder that somethings are best left alone.” Feor said it with a hint of warning, as though she recognized something in the scene. Curious Terra prodded her.

“Is that supposed to mean something to me Feor?”

“No, for both of us really. Knowledge at all cost is the worst principle, but many of my kind saw that differently. Still I followed when I should have leaded. Maybe more of these places would still be here despite our methods had I the strength to stand for my belief.” She paused as she turned her attention to Terra.

“Do not forsake your principles in the face of adversity, instead challenge them as you would a friend. They may not agree, but they will listen, and learn. That is the most important way to help someone.”

Terra wondered where this was coming from, but still she took the message to heart dispite her want to know more. She knelt down to place her hand on the smooth earth, the feeling of life in her hands. She felt a need to help this place, only knowing it for a few moments. She then thought how her former masters might view this location. A viable breeding ground, ripe with potentially powerful hosts and resources. They would leech this location in weeks.

Terra doubted they would listen to her, and doubted even more that they would learn. The Skiritix were parasites, they only concerned themselves with the next meal and self-preservation. Reasons were tools to them so that they could convert the weak and trick them into service. They only feigned at being creatures that could be reasoned with so that their prey would lower their guard, just as they use their allies faces to weaken their resolve. Terra knew their tactics better than anyone.

What if I leaded them though?

The thought seemed so preposterous, and yet if they did follow her maybe she could teach the other host hives what she felt. She shook her head, a pipe dream like that would likely get her killed. Yet the though did not go away, the hope of being free of that hunger that burned her like a wound. Helping the others who were trapped in their minds as their bodies followed the Hive mind to their goal, it brought her so much hope for a life free of their control. She smiled, feeling a tear coming down her cheek as she thought of the possibility.

“True freedom, it’s a nice thought.” She laughed to herself, a haughty one as she heard Feor speak.

“It is a possibility Terra, you need only find the way to achieve it.”

“How? I am a monster, I am their monster! I’m like a floating chain waiting to be attached. I can’t be free from them as long as I am what I am. It is a false hope Feor, and I have better things to worry about.”

“Like what youngling?”

She turned back to the group as they began to catch up to her, but she noticed something behind them that was catching speed.

“Like that.” She put her sack down as she shouted to the group.

“Behind you!” the group turned to see the creature rushing towards them.

Terra could hardly make out the creature, but from what she could see it was harder to believe. The form was made of red liquid, speeding past Garin as it took out Ella with ease. The mass of water carried her away, and Terra could make out the form much better as it was heading straight for her. She readied herself, side stepping the charge. She was, however not ready for the mass snatching her as it charge past, anticipating her dodge it grabbed hold of her tendril and carried her off as well. She tried to right herself, the jungle forest flashing in front of her as the creature dragged her and Ella away from the others.

The creature stopped suddenly, sending both she and Ella spiraling into a clearing. Drenched by the deluge from the creature, Ella could not move much without slipping back on the smooth mud she was forming around her. Terra pushed herself up, the tendrils she carried giving her excellent control even in the muddy ground. She faced the creature, finally able to see what she was fighting.

It was a mass of water in the shape of a tiger, its eyes glowed yellow in the swirling features of its form. It motioned its paw towards him, as if to egg her on.

It worked, she shot at the Tiger full speed lashing out with both of her tendrils in a flurry of strikes. The watery being did not seem to notice, as each hit only spread his form out more. Turning into an amourphous blob, it lunged at her, carrying her inside its form.

Unable to breathe, she gasped as the shock caused her to open her mouth, letting all of the water inside for a moment. She felt her chest get heavy as the water came in, unable to stop its flow. She felt herself beginning to drift, but just as she was starting to black out, the water forced itself out of her. She laid in the mud, gasping for breath as the water tiger pawed at her. She tried to bat away the paw, but it only submerged her hand as she batted it. It looked her straight in her eyes, the swirling yellow images seeming to try to convey something to her.

“You drown me, now you want to talk? You are a weird cat you know that?” She said tactfully, as Feor chuckled in the back of her mind.

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

It shook visibly, its form cascading from the movement. The tiger put a paw on her chest, nodding to her as it moved on to Ella. It preformed the same strange thing on her, going inside her mouth and regurgitating itself as she gasped for breath. The Tiger nodded to her and put a paw on her chest as well.

“So do we pass the test?” she said mockingly as the Tiger turned to her. It nodded, its mouth yawning at her as it drew its attention to the route they came. Terra realized then too, Sara and Garin must have been chasing her this whole time after this thing grabbed her. It formed a pool underneath her and slid itself to the entrance to the clearing.

Both Garin and Sara sprinted through the clearing, unaware of the puddle underneath them as it surged to grab them. Sara was brought under first, her surprised look bringing Terra to tears with laughter. Garin fought vehemently with the creature, but ultimately the water took him too as they both underwent the strange probing that the water being commenced.

The water tiger tossed them both at Terra’s direction, who caught both Sara and Garin with her tendrils, laying them on the ground. Sara righted herself and started after she had gotten to her feet, but Terra put the tendril she had in front of her.

“Relax, it’s not an enemy, I think.” She said realizing she didn’t truly know, but it hadn’t killed her so it was a safe bet. Sara was not having it, her rage pointed at Terra for a moment, the purple hues of her enraged state beginning to show.

“What if it planted something inside us? I don’t know about you but I wouldn’t trust things I just met, tends to get you killed.” She turned to the water beast, who was now in front of her. The creatures swirling yellow eyes seemed to focus on only Sara, as if challenging her. Sara stood, her body tense with her arms and legs flexed to strike. A voice appeared in Terra’s mind just as she saw Sara reach out with her four tendrils.

“Fine, I’ll amuse myself with this youngling.” The tiger jumped back from Sara’s strike, balancing itself with its amorphous form. It shot out five streams of water at Sara, who dodged most of the strikes. The ones that hit steamed, burning her as they settled.

It only fueled her rage further, her form changing into her enraged state. Terra had not seen Sara when she changed fully, only glimpses of it would show when she was angry or annoyed by something. Garin had explained it to her however, and it seemed much more terrifying in reality. Her body was bladed, as if she was a sword made manifest. Her eyes were blackened pits with only a shade of red where her irises used to be. Her hair was purple, glowing with excess energy as her tendril became sharper and longer. She roared, charging the watery beast with abandon. It deftly side-stepped, smacking her head as she traveled past it.

“Fight with your senses, not your emotions.” It spoke in her mind, taunting her even more from what Terra could see. Sara lunged at him, her strikes becoming more precise as she fired a flurry of blows and stabs. The water tiger moved effortlessly, dodging and striking her with quick swipes and attacks. Each strike seemed to slow Sara down even more, but her rage fueled her past each blow, growing with the fight. The Tiger bashed her in the face, stunning her as it circled around to strike her back. The tiger met a tendril, which bashed him instead causing him to fly back. Sara turned, her smile filled with triumph.

“Thanks Kalra, guess I should be listening to him shouldn’t I?” She smiled evilly, her tendrils outstretched. The Tiger was angry now, his snarl apparent as it lunged at her, splitting into three smaller version of itself. Sara knelt down, swinging her tendrils like a cyclone in the direction of the images. She deflected all the strikes, except the one above, which crashed down and surrounded her with water again.

Terra caught the fourth illusion when the three charged, it was easy to see from her angle, but from Sara’s point of view it must have only looked like three came at her. Sara spun in the bubble, letting her tendrils stretch out as she did. Grabbing on the surface again, she pulled herself away from the Tiger’s bubble and readied herself. The enraged state Terra saw before shifted, the purplish hue dialing down to Sara’s color. Sara was in control of herself more and more it seemed, and the fighting stopped as she put her hands up.

“Yeah, I guess I was a little carried away there,” She said with a smile, “But you did upduct my friend here so you brought that on yourself.” The tiger appeared to be laughing its features rippling from the effect.

“Strong, and clever. You four are indeed different from what I had thought.” The Tiger swirled as it shifted into a corporeal form, which made Terra gasp for a moment. The creature before her held a blue mane of seaweed, with blackened teeth that stretched down past its jawline. Its eyes were pools of yellow, beautiful and dangerous as the being before them. Twice their size, the Tiger made its way to Sara, who petted the giant cat with her tendril.

“You do that well warrior, tell me why you come to this land?” It laid down and yawned as Sara petted the Tiger with all her tendrils. Garin moved up to the beast, his eyes trained on the Tiger.

“It’s complicated, I doubt you might believe it if we told you.” Garin said, smiling as Sara rubbed the creature even more, its pleasure showing.

“You are all innocent at heart, even if you have done things you cannot stop thinking about.” It looked at Terra for a moment before continuing its conversation. “Try me.”

“We were experiments I guess you could say. We escaped because these scientists were going to use us to fight monsters called the Skiritix. They tried to take control of us using one of our friends, but another helped us escape. Our friend Selok told us to head out this way, but he didn’t mention anything about a jungle out here.”

“Selok you say?” The Tiger opened one eye in Garin’s direction.

“Yeah, he helped Sara rescue me and Terra from the Skiritix.” Garin looked over at Terra as he said it, who smiled back. Terra was pretty grateful for the rescue she realized, but the idea that Selok was still out there without them made her worry about what had happened to the spider when they got taken. She hoped he was alright as she looked back out at the desert.

The Tiger stood up, looking straight at Garin as he spoke, “Selok is my brother, he was charged with the wellbeing of the northern realm of Sate. You tell me he still lives?” Garin nodded as the Tiger smiled.

“This is good, I fear he had fallen to Drenjo...” The Tiger snarled at the name, “His tainted brother serves a new master now.”

Terra knew of the master the Tiger spoke of, like a festering reminder. It was one of the few things she picked up from the spider after she had been freed, that feeling of loss. She shook the thought away. Even if she was still tied to the Skiritix, she was not going to let them take her again. She glanced over at Sara, fully calm and back to her normal self, or what passed for normal. Smiling again she spoke to the Tiger,

“Selok spoke a lot about Drenjo, but he only mentioned that he helped create the tunnels the Skiritix use.”

The Tiger growled at the mention of Drenjo, “He is a wanderer, one who travels underground. Compared to me or Selok, Drenjo is a mountain.”

Terra instantly thought of the Tunnelers, the massive wurms the Skiritix use to transport their infection. Could he be the reason they exist? The Tunnelers were already massive monstrosities, if he truly was their father this Drenjo would be a mountain, maybe two.

“Doesn’t matter,” Garin said his voice filled with determination, “He gets in our way he’ll fall like the rest. We don’t go down easy.” The Tiger glanced at him, “Tenacity wont save you from being crushed by rock,” he nonchalantly smiled at Garin, “I do admire your spirit though, I have seen you fight those tainted. But if you truly do wish to fight my brother, you will need much more than spirit.” He turned from the group, making his way to an outcropping.

It was a massive field, the ground littered with stones that caught the sun’s rays, shining on the growth of jade jungle. Past the tall glades Terra could make out other wild life teeming in the brush of rocky vegetation. She saw massive beasts with fore-tusks and a rat’s tail covered with bristling gemstones that resonated as it breathed. She could make out a pack of them as they trampled their way through the jungle cropping, displacing the vegetation with their strides.

Following them were the strange creatures from earlier, who screamed as they flew between the tree branches. What truly caught her eye was what lay in front of them, as the Tiger stopped at a massive river.

It glistened with a deep shade of red, much like the rest of the water on this world. The vegetation she made out earlier was under the surface, swaying with the slow movements of the river. On top of the water however, was a massive serpent. Its scales surpassed iridescent, it seemed to absorb all the light around it with its obsidian glow. There was flesh as well, the head of the snake was covered in bristling hairs, white and long that caught the stream and slowly moved with it.

Its eyes were yellow, with long slits for irises as they traced her out of the group. It opened its mouth, sticking its forked tongue out at her as it moved to meet them and their watery tiger. Its mouth was dark as pitch, with only the fleshy tongue and teeth to distinguish its jawline. The Tiger pawed at the snake, a low growl shot from its form. The Snake turned to it, interested and alert.

The Tiger placed a paw on the snake, the water making its way to the snake’s nose as it filled it with foam. The snake made no moves to stop it, only opening its mouth as the water flowed out of its gaping maw. The Tiger reformed itself, moving to the Shandorians as it spoke.

“This is Tempest, my sister in arms. And I,” He paused, becoming his original fleshy form, “Am Pou’tin, protector of the East and guardian of the Telika. This is my realm, the land of Umbris. I grant you all access to this place and safe passage. Be warned,” it looked at Terra when it spoke, “I will not tolerate the needless killing of my brethren here, should you take a life, yours will replace it.”

He walked towards Terra as he sniffed her around, scanning her as he finished, “She is tainted, but does not appear to harbor ill aganst us. Just so, Tempest will accompany you as to watch your actions Tainted one. Do not be foolish, he is faster than even I. now to my den, I am in need of rest.” Pou’tin jumped into the river, his form shimmering under the red expanse. In her mind Terra heard the creature as it retreated, “Climb aboard Tempest, he will guide you to my clearing.” Terra turned to Garrin and Sara, who were both looking confused.

“So you guys didn’t hear that then?” She looked at them both quizzically.

Garin shook his head, “Did he, it, say something?” he looked even more confused by the whole issue.

Sara nodded, “Told us to ride the snake to his home.” She said it so calmly that Terra laughed, unprepared for the nonchalant of the remark. Ella was visibly terrified, looking at the large snake with wider than normal eyes.

“Ella is going to fly overhead, wouldn’t want to weigh down giant whisker snake.” She smiled and laughed half-heartedly as she spread her wings to take off. Tempest however was quicker.

Snatching her with his tail, he pulled her down and placed her on his back, gently. Ella’s face was completely shocked, her breathing came in short bursts as she settled herself on the obsidian reptile.

Garin spread out his tendrils to fight, but again Tempest was one step ahead. She took out Garin’s with a swipe of her head, sending Garin into the water. Using her tail once more, she scooped up Garin and placed him next to Ella. Both looking disgruntled after being handled, Terra almost wanted to try and see how far she could get. Just as she was about to though, Feor pleaded with her,

“Please, I do not wish to end up like them.”

“Why not? It looked fun”

“That creature unsettles me as is, I don’t think I could help you properly if that was the case. Also it’s already aware of your intentions. We wouldn’t have much of a chance.”

Terra decided to assuage Feor, moving next to the snake’s tail so it could pick her up. It gently lifted her up next to its head, away from Garin and Ella. Sara was next, and decided to play with the tail instead. She used her tendrils to block its attempts, which seemed to amuse Tempest. Finally though she gave up as she was lifted and placed next to Terra. Sara laughed as she placed her tendrils on the snakes back. Terra could not quite make out what Sara was doing as she was behind her, but the snake seemed to be disturbed by it. Feor took hold of her left tendril to see, and began to giggle herself.

“What is it?” Terra said in her mind.

“She’s tickling the poor thing, and the tail is trying to reach her but she keeps batting it away with her other two tendrils. It’s amusing.” Feor continued to chuckle as Tempest grew more determined to stop Sara. Instead of reaching her with its tail, Terra decided to stop Sara instead, grabbing her blocking tendrils so Tempest could focus. Sara laughed out loud, holding onto Tempest as she began to move through the red waters to their destination.

Gliding through the river, Tempest had no trouble with the current, as it seemed to make way for the snake beast. Garin and Ella were not having as much fun however, as Terra could hear them groan with the waters splashing on them as Tempest moved back and forth through the river. Realizing Tempest did that on purpose, he smacked the snake on the head lightly and spoke,

“They were just afraid of you, you don’t need to punish them.” The snake dunked her head under the water so that Terra got a blast of red water. Terra would have drifted off had it not been for Sara holding her in place with her two other tendrils. Tempest seemed to snicker as she remerged on the surface. Terra was about to poke her eyes when Sara spoke to her,

“She’s a bit of an ass Terra, don’t take it personally.”

Confused Terra turned to Sara, switching her position on Tempest back so she was facing Sara.

“Explain how you know that, because I’m trying to wrap my brain around what you just said.”

Sara smiled a toothy grin, “Remember when I talked you out of following that guy in your head back at the hive?”

Terra couldn’t forget, it saved her from servitude and allowed her to be free once more.

“Yes of course, but whats that have to do with-,”

“I figured out it wasn’t just you I could speak to, hell I did it with Selok all the time. I can link to creatures and talk to them. It wasn’t just specific to you or Selok, anyone I touch I can link to.” Terra realized that must have been how she was able to speak to Selok as well, but she only heard Selok’s voice when Sara was nearby. It must be a mental link, like she had with the Skiritix, it was the only thing that made any sense.

“So anyone, you can read their thoughts if you touch anyone?”

Sara shook her head, “Nah I can talk to them, reading thoughts takes a little more energy and I haven’t quite figured that out yet. Only way I got to you was because I was fueled by rage when Garin and I were fighting. Making a link is easy, it’s maintaining it that I have trouble with.” Terra saw the flashing red near Sara’s head indicating Kalra was listening. Sara pulled away for a second as she seemed to drift. Terra knew the feeling as it was almost identical to her conversations with Feor.

“Kalra says it isn’t something she had before, guess it was added on by Hawter at some point. I haven’t thought too much about it though as, well, Selok, Tempest, and you were the only ones I used it on.” Sara shrugged at the comment, as she turned back to her conversation with Kalra.

Feor seemed perturbed by the notion, her words coming out it bursts,

“Psi-link, but that can’t be possible! Kalra was never able to perform that function. This Hawter creature must be studied! We must head back to the Vault and study his brains.” Terra was sure that Feor was being frantic, so she calmed her down by thinking of her family again. It settled Feor down, but Terra could tell she was still upset by Kalra.

“Psi-link is dangerous, an unwitting mind could get lost in the link… I just don’t want the girl to lose herself to-,”

Terra interrupted her as she turned to face the river again, seeing Tempest bringing them towards a bank against the river’s edge. “She’s doing fine without us helping her Feor, she saved us remember?”

“But it’s not fair! I studied that technique for so long I should have been the one to use it. Where did she get so much ability? It’s always her, she always gets the good-,” Feor stopped mid rant, realizing herself.

“So Feor, anything you want to share?” Terra said slyly.

Feor sounded panicked through their link, her response beign jittery,

“N..nothing at all… just some old, well,” She sighed audibly in Terra’s mind.

“She was my sister… but more actual sister than my sister-in-arms okay? Bratty little upstart! By Sate she was the most annoying, conniving and just frustrating little sister. But of course she got everything! She even gets the rare abilities that I have been trying to work for since…”

“Since you both were alive?”

“Yeah, I suppose it does not matter too much anymore. She and I are different now.” Feor calmed down, her voice beginning to clear up as Tempest rested at the bank. Terra got off with a snap, splashing in the water before she made her way into the clearing.

“So, maybe you have something she doesn’t Feor.”

“The question is what, I will need to look into this. Pray give me some time before we speak again, I need to assess.” Feor retreated to the back of Terra’s mind, finally giving Terra focus on her surroundings.

The clearing Tempest brought them too was encrusted with sapphires, a contrast that hurt Terra’s eyes as she stared at them. The sun’s rays made the blue stone flourish as well, giving the appearance that the ground was in motion, almost like waves on a beach. Terra averted her eyes from the ground, instead looking for the water tiger that brought them to his place.

Pou’tin stood near a stone structure, resting next to the entrance of the strange monolithic figure. His form swirled with the sapphires, radiating a sea green light which cascade with the blue of the stones beneath him. It was even harder to focus on him so Terra looked to the sky instead. At least the sky was normal, clear blue with a few clouds hovering overhead. Sara, Garin, and Ella moved next to her as Tempest followed behind.

“Do you see something Terra?” Garin said with alarm in his voice.

Terra looked at the red blue Shandori and laughed, “Nope, just enjoying the not so shiny sky thank you.”

Sara averted her eyes as well, “No kidding this place could light up a whole building, it kind of hurts to stare at it.”

“Seems fine to me,” Garin smirked at the group. Terra pushed him with her tendril slightly, making him laugh.

The great serpent motioned them all forward, nudging poor Ella who seemed to be on the verge of a heart attack.

“Please do not eat Ella giant Tempest, I swear I do not taste good. Please oh please oh please…” Ella recited it like a pray as she stood close to Garin and Terra as they approached Pou’tin. The Tiger seemed to finally acknowledge they had arrived, with one eye open.

“Tempest, you slack in your duties. It could have taken you minutes to get here, what was the delay?

Tempest hissed angrily at Pou’tin, swirling her tail in a warning manner as she spoke silently to the Tiger.

“That is no excuse, the red one is not responsible for your punctuality. Stop dispersing blame and accept the lesson.”

Tempest snapped at Pou’tin, but retreated to the river where she settled under the waves. Terra was confused by the whole ordeal prompting her to ask.

“So, what lesson?” She meant it to sound more caring but the confusion made it come out as apathetic. Sara nudged her with a frown on her face.

Poutin looked at her, the swirling yellow in his eyes reflected pure annoyance.

“Tempest plays when she should be disciplining, she forgets that when an order is given she must carry it out. She could not replace me with such… poor skill, so Tempest must be taught a lesson.”

“Replace you as what?”

“Why, guardian of the east Shandori. I will not live forever, or as long as your kind seem to possess. No I will pass on the legacy of the Guardian to Tempest one day, but she must be ready to face the horrors I have seen before she can take the mantle. Excuse me for a moment.” Pou’tin jumped into the river his form shimmering into the waves. Terra moved to the water’s edge to get a better view, noticing the swirling foam erupting from underneath.

Tempest roared out of the water slashing the river with a flurry of strikes with his tail. Pou’tin surged at him, taking down the massive snake with wave after wave. Tempest recovered quickly, spinning on the surface of the water into a whirlpool. It pulled viciously at Pou’tin, his watery form unable to resist the tug of the pool. Sucking into the vortex Pou’tin tried to swipe at Tempest as he passed, but the obsidian snake was quicker. He deflected the attack, shoving the water tiger into the pool instead.

Tempest submerged himself, swimming towards the center of his pool. Pou’tin jumped from the pool’s grasp just as Tempest surged through the center, sending out a tidal wave in all direction. Terra realized the waves were coming straight for them, but before she could react Ella snatched her with her claws and took to the sky.

“Thanks Ella, way too close.”

“That is why I grabbed you, Ella is confused by your words.” Terra laughed as she looked down at the waves. The force behind the wave was astounding, pushing trees off of their roots as they brushed and covered the rest with a misty sheen. Garin and Sara made their way to the monolith’s entrance from what Terra could see, each holding onto the structure as the waves passed over them.

Looking back at the epicenter, Terra could make out Tempest as he searched for his master. The snake moved frantically, which to Terra made it seem like he was concerned. Moving his way to shore, Tempest circled back to face the river as it began to recede from his attack.

Ella began to lower Terra back to the ground just as she made out Pou’tin. He erupted from the river, his fleshed out form surging forward to take down his pupil. Tempest was ready, smacking away the flurry of claw attacks with his hardened tail. Just as it seemed however that Tempest had the upper hand, Pou’tin reverted to his watery form and assaulted Tempest from all sides. Blow after blow, the obsidian serpent took each one without the chance to block a single strike. He hissed at his opponent, but could do nothing against the blows, eventually succumbing to the assault.

Lying on the bank, Tempest breathed heavily as he rested their, his master chastising him furiously.

“Those strikes were too powerful, you must conserve your energy for the longer fight otherwise you will be drained in the first five minutes! I have taught you better than this Tempest!”

The obsidian monolith hissed angrily at his master, but made no moves to strike him again.

“Too much anger, you rely on it so heavily you let it blind you. If you let your opponent get inside your mind Tempest you have already lost. Ignore all else, study their movements, let them weaken themselves with their foolish words. You need only rely on your skill and training to overcome them, words are useless in a fight.”

Terra touched the ground as Ella finished their descent, but overhearing the words made her understand something about herself as well. She too relied on her rage often to overcome her troubles, especially in a fight. What if she fought like Pou’tin? Maybe she could control her animalistic half, her corrupted self, if she allowed herself to focus on her opponent alone. She had not thought to try it before, but the wise tiger seemed to be speaking to her as well.

As if it sensed her thoughts, Pou’tin turned to her as studied her face. The water tiger moved to touch her face, brushing it with his paw as it passed to check on her friends. Garin it seemed, did not avoid the tidal wave as it brushed on the shore. Drenched in red water and reeds, he held a look of disdain as he picked off the pieces of kelp and greens that encompassed his form. Sara couldn’t keep herself from laughing as Garin cleaned himself.

“You look like a salad bowl!” Sara snorted with glee as Garin picked up a piece of the kelp, and chucked it at her with a snap. Sara grabbed it with no problem, her four tendrils hovering ahead of her to catch any other projectiles.

“You’ll have to do better Garin!” Sara stuck out her tongue as she threw the kelp behind her.

Garin looked determined after she said that, picking up another piece of the vegetation he was covered in. Sara readied herself first, her tendrils outstretched in a grid. Garin took a hunk of green vegetation in each fist and tendril. With a flourish Terra couldn’t make out Garin threw the pieces all at once, his speed creating a shimmer around him. Sara however was ready, grabbing three of the pieces while dodging the last as it zoomed by her. She attempted a similar attack, but Garin never gave her the chance, launching even more kelp at the purple warrior before she released the first volley. Covered in the green glop, Sara spat as she tried to breath from the slimy plant parts. Garin chuckled as he hovered over her, his smile plain on his face.

“Overconfidence is what you possess, faster eyes you need.” Mimicking Pou’tin, Garin spoke a few of the water tiger’s words as Sara burst out laughing at the show. Terra snickered, but covered her face as she saw Pou’tin move on Garin.

Garin saw the assault before it came, and as Terra saw the paw swipe come down on Garin, she saw his speed match the attack as well.

“Well your reflexes are sharper than I thought Shandori, perhaps you would make a better Guardian than my Tempest would.”

Garin shook his head and laughed, “I got my own things to take care of Pou’tin, but thanks for the offer.”

Pou’tin shook his head, but Terra could make out a wrinkle of a smile on the tiger’s face.

“Very well then, let us enter this place. The structure is ancient, but I believe there is yet value to you all within its walls.”

Sara got the gunk off her face just in time to speak.

“So this is what you wanted us to see?”

Pou’tin sprayed her off with a jet of water from his form, “No, this is where I wanted to show you what you will want to see.”

Finally clean of the vegetation, Sara flashed her enraged mode for a moment, quickly becoming normal again as she moved inside the structure. Terra looked back at what had transpired so far and thought to herself.

“What a strange turn of events leading me here.”

Feor chided in as well.

“And I believe it will only get stranger as we go. So let’s continue, yes?”

Hearing Feor made Terra smile as the Shandori and their group walked inside the structure, the door closing shut behind them.