Their breakfast had primarily consisted of various meats due to Xitzocl’s uncertainty of whether or not Morrigan and Nora’s anatomy could consume the vegetation of Tik’Taq’To.

Morrigan still insisted on trying each thing before Nora, knowing if something did turn out to be dangerous or poisonous to human biology, that Apollyon would warn her and burn the negative qualities out of her system.

You really put way too much faith in that you know? Apollyon mused.

Morrigan smirked at the off shoot comment as her group, as well as Xitzocl and her contingent of Kêzi’kân and S’randin guard, traveled along the base of their mountain home. She could not help but take in the sights of lush jungle forests blanketing the horizon, various species of flying animals or bird creatures gliding along the tops of the trees.

The mountain path they traveled was well worn and snaked along the side of the mountain range, starting from the base and winding up half the mountain before connecting to further sequential ranges. All along the edge of the paths and even high up on the steep slopes above were tribal markers designed like stone totems, three segment stones of the head of each species of Marmuro’k painted in blue-and bronze-colored pigments along with mountain flowers of yellow and orange that budded up randomly.

One thing Morrigan noticed was that the head of a Kêzi’kân, similar to the likeness of Xitzocl herself, was always on top of each totem though the S’randin and Timse’h heads varied in position.

“Yeah well, between the unholy amount of sedative, the Iaktai poison and alcohol, I see no reason why dangerous food wouldn’t work,” she commented back in her head. Apollyon grunted in concession to her point.

“Xitzocl, how come the totems all have a Kêzi’kân head on top?” she inquired.

Xitzocl hummed as she side-eyed Morrigan as they walked together, Nora even peeking around both women to listen intently.

“You’re very astute in your observational skills; each clan territory has their own totems. Each clans’ totems are headed with the likeness of the clan chieftain, and decorated in the clan’s colors, signifying both territory limits as well as safe traveling routes,” Xitzocl informed both women. Xol hummed in agreement in front of Morrigan as he guided the way along with the rest of the warriors Xitzocl had brought with them.

The wind whipped through the trail sending up light plumes of dust around them. The heady earthy scents mixed with the musky dampness stripped from the canopy of the jungle below creating a blissful smell. Overhead, came the whooshing of air as a massive creature banked around the side of the mountain emitting a profound bellow.

The creature glided on two sets of leathery wings, it’s body serpentine of stone-colored scales leading up to a large bony ribcage, it’s head long and flat horizontally like a hammerhead shark with a large beak for a mouth that appeared serrated.

Morrigan and Nora both crouched low in surprise, Morrigan summoning her crimson claws on instinct while Nora coalesced her daggers of ice. Xitzocl let out a hissing laugh as Morrigan realized everyone, including Skoll, merely looked up and watched the creature fly overhead without concern.

“It is a Kurmanan, as your kind would say… a sky worm?” Xitzocl mused as she watched the massive creature swoop down slowly and brush along the canopies.

Morrigan watched with furrowed brows as she noticed where the creature brushed against, long swathes of leaves and branches were missing.

“Oh! It’s an herbivore,” Morrigan stated through a sharp breath as she let her claws dissipate. Nora began giggling as she whipped her daggers behind her to sink into the mountain side.

“And here we were, ready to kill it,” she said before wrapping her arms around Morrigan’s waist behind as they watched the Kurmanan cut swathes through the canopy.

Xitzocl nodded respectfully, “If herbivore means not hostile, then yes, though I understand your reaction.”

“Why do we let a human walk among us? They jump at every shadow and the clans will be in outrage!” One of Xitzocl’s guards grumbled.

Though Morrigan understood what he said, she pretended she didn’t know as Xol let out a threatening hiss holding his hammer in a more readied position.

Xitzocl turned to her subordinate calmly, “I am aware of how the clans will react however, Red Death is an honored guest of Clan Arak’tarul and honored by Xol-Tau of Clan Tau. They will get over it.”

“Speak in such a way again and I will remove your head and bury it within your chest!” Xol snapped sharply in the Marmuro’k tongue.

Morrigan smirked at that and said nothing as Xitzocl motioned for everyone to move forward, continuing their trek into the next mountain path.

Hours passed as the bright sun moved across the sky, Nora opting to ride Skoll as her human body began to strain. Every time Morrigan glanced at her lover and her newest companion, Skoll let out a longing whine that made Nora giggle, causing her to succumb to giving him ear scratches.

Morrigan could admit that the new dynamic formed between Skoll and Nora was refreshing, even if all he exuded was the emotional longing for attention from her. She was still perplexed that she could feel the creature’s emotions so clearly, not needing to guess what the emotion was, yet there was overwhelming curiosity surrounding the newfound connection and ability.

As far as I can tell, the thing has linked a very strong bond with you, almost like a bridge connected between the two of you. I can see it in here, just pointing off in the direction it’s walking, and every time it emits an emotion it travels that bridge and expands through your multitude of emotions until it meets a proper signature… sort of like how you were able to harbor my essence, except on a… what do you call those damn things… Apollyon explained before losing its momentum.

“You mean like a signal transmitter?” She asked internally.

Something like that.

Morrigan considered the explanation, eyeing Skoll as they walked. “Nora? Do you ever feel anything coming from Skoll?” Morrigan asked on a whim.

Nora smiled and ran her hands through his fur, “Only how soft he is! That’s right, who’s a soft boy!” she cooed as she leaned forward and scratched his ears and cheeks.

To Morrigan’s surprise, Skoll emitted an endearing signal of adoration and love towards Nora, though given Nora’s lack of response, Morrigan concluded that the bond that enabled her to feel what Skoll was feeling was only between him and her.

Before any other thoughts could distract her, the group approached a mountain wall with no walking path in sight. Morrigan focused to find numerous hand and foot holds carved or long since placed into the wall. She turned to Xitzocl, “I take it we need to climb this?” she asked innocently.

“The human is scared of heights? Typical. She will fall to her death, just how a weaker species should,” spoke the same Kêzi’kân who tried underhandedly belittling her before, hiding behind their language.

A burst of energy crackled from Xol’s mace as he stepped forward with a deadly hiss, fed up with the insolence of Xitzocl’s subordinate.

Morrigan smirked and reached out, grabbing Xol by the elbow and forcefully holding him back. “Xitzocl, what is it that he said?” Morrigan inquired aloofly.

Xitzocl looked between Morrigan, Xol and her subordinate intently before huffing indignantly, “Tim’alt has voiced his concern for the strength of humans, believing that you are not fit to be here nor able to survive the way to our sacred land, the council as well as Tik’Taq’To itself.”

Xol let out a threatening his however, Morrigan tightened her grip on his arm as she pursed her lips. She eyed the Kêzi’kân who deemed her unfit amongst the denizens of the world, knowing this sort of discrimination would be unavoidable. However, she had no intentions of letting it stand as she stared down the green and blue Kêzi’kân.

“Xol, translate. You seem to think humans are weak Tim’alt, that I am weak. Though it may be true for some humans, even most, however, I am not one of those humans. So, we shall settle this. I will race you to the top of this cliff, if I win, you keep your mouth shut and if you make a single dishonorable remark again; I will let Xol-Tau give whatever punishment he deems fit. If I lose, I will turn back and leave Tik’Taq’To.”

Skoll let out a low growl as he brushed his snout against her arm, eyeing the offending Kêzi’kân. Xol repeated what she said near perfectly, though his words were significantly more hostile than her own which made her smirk.

Tim’alt let out a growling hiss before turning to Xitzocl, “You are to let this stand, chieftain? A great warrior who disgraced himself by kneeling before a human?”

Xitzocl’s nostrils flared in irritation as she snapped back, “Not only have you continuously insulted an honored guest of Clan Tau and Clan Arak’tarul, you have been questioning my decisions from the start of our journey to the sacred land. By every right, Red Death must be allowed the honor of challenging you and I shall support the challenge. You will race to the top of the cliff or I will allow Xol-Tau to have his way with you now if you refuse.”

Yekku zipped up next to Morrigan and began unleashing a slew of aggressive chittering. The surrounding Marmuro’k let out hissing laughter as Yekku huffed rapidly, obviously winded by his outburst.

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Morrigan watched Tim’alt’s eyes widen briefly in surprise before reinforcing his resolve. He said nothing, but gave Morrigan a sharp, albeit reluctant nod before making his was to the wall. She made a mental note to ask someone what he said later.

Just fly that little ass of yours to the top of the cliff and win this annoy bet, Apollyon grumbled.

“No, I’ll win this fair and square. We both know I can. Besides, why are you so irritated about it?” She asked as she stepped to the wall next to Tim’alt.

Xitzocl barked something sharply that Morrigan missed and one of the S’randin in her retinue sprinted to the wall and started darting up the wall with precision.

Morrigan looked back at Xitzocl who approached slowly behind her and Tim’alt. “Darri will blow a signal horn to initiate the race. She shall also announce the winner just in case none of us see as we follow you,” she stated.

Morrigan nodded her understanding and focused on the numerous painted handholds and metal pitons scattered along the cliff face.

Within a surprisingly short moment, Darri blew the horn signaling the start of the race. Tim’alt wasted no time as he leaped up high and grabbed a piton, pulling himself up towards higher handhold. Morrigan watched for a moment to see how the Marmuro’k scaled such walls.

Morrigan approached the wall and leapt to the closest handhold. Her grip was tentative as she realized the painted holds were smooth in texture and more designed for someone with greater hand strength, and larger hands. Except, she was the embodiment of destruction and her power fueled every inch of her. With a deep breath she kicked off a slim foothold and threw herself higher to grab ahold of a T shaped piton.

She also confirmed her suspicions that the layout was also designed for beings taller than her, or someone with longer limbs at least. It was not an issue for Morrigan though as she pulled herself into a scaling leap off the piton and latched onto another handhold.

Tim’alt hissed in irritation as he looked down to see that she had nearly caught up with him and doubled his efforts to move faster. With a sly smirk on her face, Morrigan swung herself closer to his direction and catching a rock to pull herself higher. The feeling of free floating for a moment as she tossed herself was exhilarating.

Skoll yipped with a powerful aura of worry from the bottom of the cliff. Morrigan looked down below her to see the massive canine stamping his feet nervously 50 feet below. She could also see as Xol and the rest of the Marmuro’k had begun to follow them up.

“Don’t worry Skoll, I’ll come get you once I beat this asshole!” she called out before looking up and hoisting herself up higher.

Morrigan watched as Tim’alt pulled the same stunt she did, throwing himself to the side to reach a different handhold. Only difference was that small rocks and dust pelted her in the face as she witnessed it.

Spitting out the earthy taste from her mouth, she threw herself up and kicked off a rock that jutted from the wall, launching herself up next to Tim’alt.

Tim’alt let out a bark of surprise before hissing menacingly at her grinning face as she went to grab the next handhold. However, Tim’alt's thick tail smacked into her and knocked her off her trajectory, causing her to miss the handhold.

Many of the Marmuro’k made alarming sounds as Skoll howled angrily, unleashing a torrent of electricity that caused Nora to yelp in surprise. Morrigan plummeted 20 feet before her arm caught one of the T shaped pitons.

She cried out in pain as one of the bones in her forearm snapped, her elbow and forearm getting wedged into the piton for a painful recovery.

“Apollyon!” she shouted in her head as she used her free hand to grasp the piton and pull her injured arm free, resetting her hold along the cliff face.

Yeah, yeah, I got it, but do me a favor and cut the bastard’s tail off and ram it down his throat! Apollyon growled angrily as she felt the deity reset the broken bone with an awkward and painful snap back into place.

She leaned away from the wall and looked down at Skoll waving her newly healed arm. “It’s okay baby boy, see!” she called out. Skoll grumbled and stamped his paws with a mix of relief and irritation. He made her smile though as she refocused back to the race.

“Okay asshole, you want to play dirty?” she murmured before summoning her crimson claws and burying them into the mountain side.

As her other hand buried into the wall with the smooth penetration of her claws, she scaled the wall at an inhumane pace. Morrigan fluidly scaled the wall and caught up with Tim’alt in mere seconds; pulling past him at the same pace with enough time to look down and see the look of disbelief in his eyes.

Morrigan climbed to the top and pulled herself over the ledge to find the yellow and red speckled S’randin standing there patiently waiting. Darri raised her fish-like ribbed fin on her head in surprise for a moment before flicking her tongue out inquisitively. A second later, Darri gave Morrigan a sharp nod and lifted a horn to her reptilian mouth and blew.

Though the sound carried well, it was not very loud to Morrigan’s surprise as she finished pulling herself up and sitting down cross-legged.

Ten minutes passed as Morrigan waited for all of those capable of climbing the wall except Nora, who still sat on Skoll at the base of the cliff. Tim’alt stood off to the side looking dejected as Xitzocl pulled herself over the cliff edge and looked around before focusing on Darri. The female S’randin squawked and nodded towards Morrigan.

Before anyone could say anything, Yekku burst into hysteric cheers of triumph and threw his arms around Morrigan. Morrigan laughed as she gave Yekku a hug, Xitzocl too laughing at Yekku’s antics.

Xitzocl turned to Tim’alt, “Do you have nothing to say in your honorable defeat?” she asked.

Tim’alt sullenly shook his head before turning to Morrigan and bowing respectfully. Xol hummed however, Morrigan held her arm out in front of him before he could even finish his thought. She stepped forward towards Tim’alt, who shrank slightly at her approach.

She stuck her hand out with a sincere smile, “Let this be a new understanding between us,” she stated. Xitzocl translated leaving Tim’alt to look at Morrigan in wide eyed surprise. Tentatively, Tim’alt grasped her forearm, her hand barely able to grab ahold of his thick forearm in a warrior’s grip, and giving her a firm wordless nod.

Really? You should rip his tongue out for all the shit he said about you!

“No, they value honor and pride, and I have wounded his drastically,” Morrigan pointed out.

Yeah but… that’s far less fun… Apollyon sulked.

“Hey babe, I hope you’re not going to leave me and the pupper down here…” Nora chimed over the comm bead.

She giggled to herself before turning to Xitzocl, “Give me a moment, it seems I have a dog and girlfriend to collect.”

Xitzocl cocked her head to the side in confusion before stepping back in shock as Morrigan sprinted forward and swan dived off the cliff. Morrigan could briefly hear many of the Marmuro’k call out in shock, Yekku included as she spread her crimson skeletal wings.

Morrigan glided down the cliff in a gentle arc as she touched down gracefully her wings dissipating and Skoll immediately licking up her chest and face in long, sloppy, loving licks. Morrigan sputtered as she pushed his face down while laughing.

Nora just as on Skoll’s mid back and smiled in adoration. “So, I take it you won?” she asked.

Morrigan scratched behind Skoll’s ear, Skoll huffing pleasantly as she wiped her face with her free hand, “Of course I did. I mean the asshole tried knocking me off the cliff but we have an understanding now,” Morrigan said cheerily.

Nora smirked as she hopped off Skoll, “Well, it was fun to watch that ass go up the cliff,” she said as she stepped over and firmly grabbed one of Morrigan’s butt cheeks, causing Morrigan to giggle.

“So, how are we getting him up there?” Nora followed up.

Morrigan scoffed and lifted her hand, coalescing one of her crimson claws and summoning an even larger clawed hand on the ground facing palm up. The spectral claw was easily large enough to fit Skoll within the palm.

“The question is not how he'll get up, but you. The way I see it, you have two options,” Morrigan stated coyly. Nora took the bait without even thinking and wrapped her arms around Morrigan’s waist.

“What would those be?” Nora inquired with a grin.

“Well, you can either ride Skoll or your can ride me,” Morrigan stated brazenly. Morrigan’s nerves felt alive within her body at the events of climbing the cliff, like a high that emboldened her.

Nora grinned brightly and pulled Morrigan’s face to hers in a lustful kiss.

Ah come on, third wheel here! Apollyon complained.

Morrigan smiled into the kiss however, she did not stop making out with her girlfriend in their moment of reprieve.

“Oh please, you’ve watched us have sex,” Morrigan snarked back.

I may be a gentleman but it doesn’t mean I want to be part of this three-way.

Morrigan cracked and started giggling as she pulled away from Nora. Nora also giggled and appeared unaffected by Morrigan’s laughter ruining the moment.

“Well, it was your deal, so you gotta live with it,” Morrigan shot back before looking at Skoll. Apollyon grumbled incoherently in concession, knowing it had no real argument.

“Okay buddy, climb into the hand,” she stated while gesturing towards the large spectral clawed hand. Skoll looked between her and the hand, cautiously stepping towards it and sniffing. Even more cautiously, Skoll prodded the palm with one of his massive paws to test whether or not the hand was solid. After determining it safe to step on, he walked into the center of the hand and laid down.

Morrigan felt the small disembodied weight on her own palm, which was weird seeing as Skoll had to weigh as much as Xol, if not more, and Xol weighed nearly 700 lbs. “Good boy, just stay still,” she cooed.

She could feel Skoll’s twin tails beat against her palm at her praise as he exuded happiness and trust to her, leaving her smiling at him.

Without thinking, she wrapped her right arm around Nora and pulled her to her body forcefully. Nora squeaked into a giggle before wrapped her arms around Morrigan’s neck.

Morrigan turned and pecked Nora on the lips before asking, “Ready?”

Nora grinned cheekily, “Sweep me off my feet, precious,” she stated smoothly before bursting into a fit of giggles.

Morrigan snorted and shook her head in contempt at the bad joke, Apollyon also groaning loudly in the back of her mind as Morrigan’s skeletal wings flourished into existence again. She gently wrapped the large clawed fingers over Skoll and began to raise the hand above them and with a single thrust of her wings, followed after the large spectral hand carrying the newest member of her family.

The Marmuro’k, aside from Xol, Yekku and Hi’tet, watched in awe as Morrigan rose above the cliff edge carrying Nora in her arm, her wings eloquently flowing as they carried her high enough to land and a large spectral fist trailing closely behind that unfurled to reveal the Bïrûskê, that leapt off before the large crimson hand faded from existence along with Morrigan’s wings.

Xitzocl stood there with her mouth open, dumbfounded as the realization of Morrigan’s strength and power became clearer. “What are you?” she murmured quietly. Xitzocl had seen human mages before, as well as the abilities of the Eskarii however, what she was witnessing was breaking the mold of what Xitzocl knew about either species definition of magic. The human before her was something far more powerful, seeing as she scaled the cliff effortlessly and beat Tim’alt, as well as displaying such power just as effortlessly.

Xol looked at Morrigan with stoic pride and beat the pommel of his mace into the ground, “She is Mirina Sor,” he rumbled in Terran. His words were filled with devote pride which caused Morrigan to blush and smile meekly. Skoll stalked around Morrigan before sitting behind her and towering two heads over her, letting out a low, prideful howl.

Morrigan blushed deeper as everyone stared at her until a warbling cry came from Yekku who had snuck off ahead up a gently sloping hill. His calls were energetic and excited as he pointed off in the distance.

“We should get going,” Morrigan surprised as she forcibly looked towards Yekku, trying to divert attention

Xitzocl shook herself from her stupor, “Right, yes we should,” she said in embarrassment before stalking off towards Yekku, her retinue following close behind though some of them continued glancing back at Morrigan.

“They started looking at you like Yekku does,” Nora pointed out.

Morrigan rested her head on Nora’s shoulder and sighed as they followed Xitzocl’s group, “I hope not, but I think they’re starting to see that I’m more than what I say I am, or at least, they’re realizing what Xol has been saying… either way, I have no idea if this will help or hinder me here…”

Nora snorted and kissed the top of Morrigan’s forehead, “You got this babe, and honestly, it’ll probably help. I mean, how bad can having a bunch of followers be. If anything, this just makes you more of a queen than before,” she said with a chipper tone. Morrigan however, groaned at the idea again.

Hahahahaha your woman is right, soon the peasants shall bow before the Goddess of Death! Apollyon cackled.