Previously on Warriors of Destiny: Heading for the Strennus system, the group waits for their newest adventure. Though four planets orbit the systems sun, the binary planets Xawin and Veles were the destination. Arriving in the system, the Ettik�s scan revealed two identical ruins located on both planets.
Wraith, declaring that these ruins held what they were looking for, instructed the group to split into two teams, with Katie and Claron leading each team. As the team members were chosen, the Terran Alliance drew closer, their goal to investigate the Ettik and its reason for exploring the system.
Katie, bound for the jungle planet Veles; chose Syne, Kyra, Arwyn, Skirmir, Cara, Drac, Clarice and Kabal to make up her team. While Claron, heading to the rock wastes of Xawin, chose the remaining crew members.
Teleported to their respective planets, our two teams were met with the sight of the great ruins, in a sad state of decay from the towering beauties they once were. Meanwhile; the Terran Alliance taskforce jumped into the system, sending two stealth teams out to track them.
*Time passed: None*
The unseen force continues to beckon Katie and Claron; broken ruins, waiting for the travelers. An old path is worn into the rocks before Claron and company, leading a winding path through the rocks towards the ruins.
On Veles, the natural bridge spans the gorge. An ancient trail leading through the a flowering field towards the towering ruins, the setting sun disappearing behind its skyscraping spire. Meanwhile; the stealth ships enter the atmosphere of each planet on their dark side to avoid detection.
�It�s quite the view,� Skirmir comments as he gazes ahead at the ruins.
DracBlue looks around. �I agree. But beauty can be deadly. Be careful.�
Kabal taps his feet against the ground in turn and nods, �The ground is sturdy,� moving his right foot, a pillar of ground topped with grass shoots up next to him. Grabbing some rocks, he creates a bracer of rock. �This should do incase the ground is covered inside.�
�Gorgeous.� Katie surveys the landscape.
Wraith nods to Claron�s group, �There it is, we should not linger here.�
Syne stretches, making motions that would pop normal bones, then nods, �We should move out, take pictures if you want to enjoy the scenery, folks.�
Luna looks around the rocky scene before them. �I don�t like it here. Nothing to climb and get a vantage point from.�
�Party pooper.� Katie makes a face, then sighs. �He�s right, however. Let�s see what�s to be found.�
�Absolutely beautiful,� Clarice whispers.
�It�s also open, should anything be around, its no doubt seen us already,� Eclipse says, looking around, then back to the ruins.
Tzaphiel glances at Luna. �I can go up for a view if that would ease your worry.�
Valrash decides he doesn�t want his back guarded by others and takes the rear of the party, waiting for the rest to move out before he does.
Shadow moves in the middle of the group.
�I don�t like this one bit. We�re easy pickings, for sure.� Claron grumbles as she continues to walk down the path.
Deep within each ruin, something stirs, sensing the foreign, the alien to the worlds. These distant creatures grow closer, and another stirs, preparing itself for the eventual intrusion.
�Best get inside quickly then,� Tabris replies as he follows Claron, the arid landscape getting a scowl from him.
Luna shakes her head, �No, but be ready to take wing if something happens.� She lifts her face and sniffs the breeze as her ears twitch.
�Wonder what this used to be?� Katie muses as they start to walk.
The breeze is dusty and dry and carries no scent of local wildlife, save the light scent a few spindly cactus-like plants emit as they bask in the sunlight.
Tzaphiel nods as she forms her wings out behind her. She stretches them to their full span for a moment, then folds them down comfortably.
�A great castle perhaps, or a temple of some sort?� Skirmir put forth his thoughts, eyeing the natural bridge.
�Bridge looks wide enough, but watch your footing just to be on the safe side,� Syne says as he glances over his shoulder at everyone.
DracBlue follows near Cara, walking with the group.
Luna looks at Eclipse, �Let�s get this over quickly.�
�Come on�that sun is going to keep rising and it�s going to get hot,� Stryder grumbles as he heads for the ruins.
Kyra thinks of Stryder and sighs.
Katie turns. �C�mon, little one. You�ll be reunited with yer boy soon enough.�
Kyra glares.
Katie shrugs and bends over to pick some wildflowers, putting them up in her hair, tucking them around her clip.
Tzaphiel takes up step between Shadow and Valrash as they move on down the path.
Clarice takes a deep breath, then exhales slowly, trying to calm her nerves. Her heart races as she crosses the bridge.
Strangely, as soon as the flowers are picked by Katie, they regrow. A small v of long tailed birds sail across the air high above the bridge, heading out to the lower jungle below the cliffs to the west.
Kabal watches the birds as they fly, then returns his gaze to the bridge and Clarice ahead of him, �Clarice, you alright?�
DracBlue looks down when he reaches the bridge, loses his balance and falls down. Flying back up, he giggles to himself for being a klutz.
A lighter wind picks up on the rocky wastes, blowing a thin layer of dust into the air. Wraith continues towards the ruins, his gaze almost reminiscent as if he is trying to remember something.
Tabris looks to Claron, �Next time we get the jungle planet��
Katie hums to herself as she crosses the bridge, eyeing the ruins.
Clarice finds it difficult to answer Kabal as her knees start to buckle. Dropping to one knee, she shakes her head. �W-What if it gives out?�
�It won�t, not as long I�m standing on it,� Kabal offers a hand to Clarice.
Skirmir glances back at Clarice and Kabal, pausing after he crosses, �Is everything all right back there?�
DracBlue flies above the group looking around for any sign of movement.
Katie reaches the other side and shivers a bit. �Spooky.�
The flowering plain in front of the ruins has little movement, save a pair of ground rodents, darting around the grass apparently eating the flowers. The tree leaves sway under a light breeze from the east.
Clarice takes Kabal�s offered hand, shakily. The disturbing image of seeing her dead father and hearing his words, weighing heavily on her.
As Claron�s group approaches the ruins, the wind begins to slow, but the rising sun is only making it hotter. The horizon begins to shimmer from the rising heat. Fallen pillars and broken walls make a misshapen path towards the entrance, half covered by a broken statue of some long dead ruler.
�Just take it easy, Clarice, you�ll be fine,� Kabal nods, his face giving her his best look of reassurance.
Luna studies the broken statue. �Must have been civilized at some time.�
�Long time ago, from the look of things,� Eclipse comments surveying the broken buildings.
Claron runs the back of her hand across her forehead, trying to wipe the sweat that is beginning to run down from it. �I don�t see how anything, or anyone�could survive in this heat.�
�With our luck, we�ve come during summer,� Tabris shrugs as he eyes the statue and the entrance behind it.
Clarice nods her head as they continue to follow the others.
Wraith climbs up the fallen statue�s torso, sliding down the other side into the entrance.
Tzaphiel looks at the horizon. �It may not have always been this way.�
Syne watches as the sun disappears fully behind the towering spire, its rays casting a sunset of fading green colors into the sky.
Luna climbs over the statue, following Wraith into the ruins.
Cara smiles as she watches Kabal with Clarice.
Katie shivers a little more. �Darkness falls,� she whispers.
The jungle�s ruins are also worn, buildings and columns broken and covered in numerous mosses and vines. Though most of the damage appears to have happened over time, some is broken in ways indicating inflicted damage.
Reaching for Tabris� hand, Claron lightens their gravity as they begin to climb the statue.
Stryder scurries across the statue, joining the others in the ruin�s entrance.
Shadow climbs over the statue joining the others inside.
Valrash flies up and over the statue.
Tzaphiel barely flutters her wings and floats over it, landing softly on the other side.
Wraith glances around, the entrance chamber is spartan and aside from heavy statues, anything of value has been long since taken. Thin trails in the dust lead from the entrance to crack in the walls, marking the passage of small desert reptiles.
Shadow sighs. �Great, the place has been looted already.�
�I doubt they would store great treasures in the entry way,� Eclipse looks at Shadow.
Luna sees the trails in the dust and shivers despite the heat. �I hate snakes,� she purrumbles.
Shadow looks at Eclipse. �I don�t doubt that either, but still a little discouraging to see the place looted as such.�
Katie�s group draws closer to the ruins, the entrance lays ahead, flanked by a pair of unidentifiable statues covered in flowering vines.
Kyra hurries to catch up to Katie and Syne.
Tzaphiel shakes her head at Shadow. �One man�s junk is another man�s treasure.�
Wraith moves into the chamber, motioning ahead at the large archway leading further into the ruins. �If you have any light, I suggest getting it ready.�
Valrash summons a spear and holds it up. It begins flaming at the tip, acting as a torch.
Luna shrugs as her eyes adjust to the decreasing light deeper in the ruins.
�Getting darker by the minute,� Syne huffs, then looks at the group, �Cara, think you can make some torches for us?�
�Seems to me, Wraith, you know more than you have shared with us. And I think it�s high time you did,� as Claron moves closer to him.
Tzaphiel holds out her hand and forms a glowing orb of energy.
�When the time is right,� Wraith says simply, his voice drifting on the stale air of the hallway.
Tabris shakes his head, �Venturing into dark ruins in search of treasure, this seems vaguely familiar��
�No carvings on the walls,� Eclipse says as he rubs a hand along the wall, fingers noting the smooth surfaces of the stone.
Luna looks down at the floor as she moves carefully thru the hallway.
Syne brushes aside some vines hanging down across the entrance. �Looks pretty barren inside, but there�s a corridor further in.�
�Then that�s where we need to go.� Katie says dully, the feeling of being pulled draining her.
Ahead of Claron�s group the hallway splits, curving to either side a short distance before they open into another chamber.
DracBlue lands next to Cara and looks at the entrance where Syne is.
Ducking between the vines, Skirmir walks into the entry chamber, glancing around at the statues as his eyesight adjusts.
Cara nods her head at Syne as she balls up her hand, then flings her fingers open, releasing a soccer ball sized fireball into the air that floats in the air above the group.
�Did you see anything from up there?� Kabal questions Drac as he lands next to his sister.
�And I suppose you will know when the time is right,� Claron growls sarcastically.
DracBlue nods. �Just some rodents and trees as far as the eye could see. Not much else.�
Wraith glances at the split, then takes the left path, �This way��
Luna glances down the path on the right before following Wraith.
Claron follows Wraith and takes the left path.
�Inside everybody,� Syne waves everyone inside the ruins.
The path to the right is a replica of the left and seems to lead into the same chamber.
DracBlue follows Cara into the ruins.
�Try not to light anything on fire with that, Cara,� Kabal says as he watches the fireball.
Arwyn moves into the ruins.
Heading for the corridor, Syne takes the lead, blinking as his eyes shift to better see in the darkness.
Tzaphiel holds her energy ball up to light the hallway as she follows Luna.
Valrash follows behind the party making sure not to fall behind.
Passing through a smaller archway, Wraith pauses just inside the large chamber. More ornate than the previous room, the walls are carved with large hieroglyphs accompanied by statues of rulers and deities. Large tiles are set into the floor, a few with old stains on them.
Shadow pulls out his throwing axes and keeps them at ready.
Cara scowls at Kabal as she continues to carefully float the fireball above the group. �Oh! Decided to show your lack of faith in me in me I see, Kabal.�
Kabal shakes his head, �I meant the plants�there are a lot of them hanging around.�
�Hrm�this may be a problem,� Syne rubs his head as he stops further into the corridor, staring at large section of missing floor and the pit it had fallen into.
�Whoa.� Katie peers down into the pit.
Luna pauses in the archway next to Wraith. �Those almost look like blood stains,� pointing at the floor.
�Not everyone can make that jump,� Skirmir eyes the pit and the floor on the other side.
DracBlue looks at the hole and the hallway. �I might be able to get us across.�
�Old bloodstains,� Eclipse says as he looks at one of the tiles, �I don�t see another exit, so I�m guessing there�s a hidden doorway.�
�There isn�t much room to fly, let alone carry someone across,� Kabal comments to Drac.
Clarice concentrates and forms an ice bridge over the pit.
The ice bridge glistens with the light of Cara�s fireball. Syne nods, �Alright, good job. Guess we�ll go one at time to not stress the bridge.�
Tabris sighs, �Okay, so what do we do now?�
Luna looks around the room at the statues judging their placement in relation to the stained tiles.
Wraith surveys the room. Tilting his head, he listens to the air, �With the right steps shall the path be revealed��
The statues are spaced so that one is lined up with each row of tiles, though they are spaced every other on both walls.
Clarice starts to tremble as the image of an ice bridge she made once before broke apart with her on it, enters her thoughts.
Syne crosses the ice bridge with a sigh, then glances back at the others.
Tzaphiel stands back, waiting to see if she needs to fly across the room.
�Right steps�that would rule out the stained tiles then,� Stryder says as he glances around the floor.
Luna looks at the floor. �With the right steps? But where should the first step be?�
Eclipse shrugs, �I don�t know, I could scale to the ceiling and see if I notice anything from above."
DracBlue crosses the bridge and looks back waiting for Cara to cross as well.
Arwyn follows behind Syne across the bridge.
�So I guess we just take a step and hope nothing bad happens,� Tabris looks around at the tiles.
Skirmir crosses the bridge as well, making room for the others once on the other side.
Luna looks back at the group. �Well, I think I should do it. If anyone else goes, I may not be able to get to you to heal you.�
�If you�re sure�� Eclipse looks at Luna with reluctance at letting her go.
�I don�t suppose floating us across would do any good?� as Claron looks carefully at the tiles.
�They�re probably pressure plates, so floating above them wouldn�t trigger them,� Stryder says with a nod, then glances at Luna.
Luna nods at Eclipse. �I�m sure.� She looks over at Stryder and Claron. �It might not set off the pressure, but what if it�s the pressure on the right step that causes the reward?�
Katie looks at the bridge, remembering the last ice bridge she crossed, and what followed. She trembles again.
�Come Katie, we�re here if you need us,� Syne motions her across.
Katie closes her eyes, shuffling and sliding her way precariously over the bridge.
Kyra watches, taking panicked, shallow breaths.
�We must press on, whatever your strategy, do it.� Wraith says softly, his voice showing no emotion.
As Katie nears the far end, Syne reaches out and takes her hand to steady her, helping her reach the other side safely.
Luna looks at Claron. �If I step wrong and the floor falls out from under me, someone better catch me.�
�Clarice, Kyra?� Kabal looks between them, then at the bridge.
Tzaphiel shifts into a phoenix, then makes her way to the door and squawks �I gotcha,� at Luna.
Luna takes a deep breath, then steps on the nearest clean tile.
The tile sinks slightly into the floor with the faintest noise. After a few seconds, nothing happens. Apparently Luna has chosen the correct tile.
Cara moves over towards Kyra and softly whispers, �Come on, we�ll cross together,� as she gentle slips a hand into hers.
�Phew�� Tabris takes a breath watching Luna, �So far, so good.�
Luna releases the breath she was holding and glances back at Wraith. �Ok, now where?�
�Continue on,� Wraith nods, then motions ahead, 8 more rows of tiles make up the floor, Luna can now move forward or to the sides.
Claron stands quietly beside Tabris, holding her breath as she watches Luna.
Luna steps to the nearest clean spot on the next row quickly.
The ice bridge holds as Cara and Kyra pass over, but the floating fireball appears to be melting it faintly.
The tile clicks again, but the sound is different. A gem imbedded in the statue heading that row lights up, a beam of light shooting towards the tile.
Kabal notices the fireballs effect on the bridge and nods, �Better hurry. We�re losing our crossing.�
Luna jumps back to the previous tile, swatting a hot spot on her leg with a growl.
Eclipse cringes at the beam, but nods, �Try one of the others ones.�
Wraith watches Luna on the tiles, �Try the left one.�
Luna looks at the floor around her and steps to her left on the same row.
The tile clicks, nothing happening again.
Luna breathes a sigh of relief and looks at the floor around her carefully. She steps forward to the left.
The tile clicks and with a faint light Luna is teleported to a tile in the middle of the room. Only 5 rows away from the far wall.
Stryder shifts his gaze as Luna teleports, crossing his arms, he �hmmm�s� with interest.
�Clarice?� Kabal looks across the pit back at her.
Clarice watches the others cross, then moves toward the bridge. Pausing in front of it for a moment, she takes a small step onto it. With her heart pounding, she continues sliding along the ice.
The tiles surrounding Luna are stained, though several appear to be smeared from an adjacent tile.
Luna chews her lip as she looks at the next row of tiles. Silently prays to the Selenia for wisdom, then moves to a less stained tile forward right.
Clarice reaches the other side safely.
Syne nods and continues down the corridor. �Damn�it splits, left or right?�
DracBlue carves a coin out of one of his gems and says, �We could always toss on it.�
The tile dislikes Luna�s weight upon it and groans, a heavy click sounds from above as a large rock plummets from the ceiling.
Luna steps back to the center tile, quickly dodging the rock.
The crashing rock echoes through the chamber. A cloud of dust billowing up around Luna from the impact.
Luna covers her nose with one paw and fans dust away from her face with the other. �Well that wasn�t it.�
�Kat, your call,� Syne looks at Katie, then down either path.
Claron gasps as she sees the rock fall.
�I�d say�almost had to peel you off the floor with a spatula,� Tabris calls out, trying to lighten the mood.
Katie closes her eyes. �L�left,� as she feels a tug.
Luna looks up at the ceiling, trying to see if there is any way to tell where those might come from.
�Left it is,� Syne nods and heads the way, soon entering a large carved and tiled floor chamber.
The ceiling is smooth and tiled like the floor, the rock�s previous location now an empty square hole.
Arwyn follows the left path into the chamber.
�From bad to worse�beginning to think we picked the wrong planet,� Syne looks ahead. The tiled chamber is in disarray, a formerly hidden door is jammed open on the far wall and numerous large rocks litter the floor. An ominous pile of pale white bones is piled near a large hole at the base of a statue.
Luna�s tail rubs over the blade of Luciendar. ~You have any advice, now would be a good time to give it to me.~ She thinks to her sword as she studies the floor.
~Sorry dear, I�m not good at puzzles. But I would try the tiles that don�t smell like aged death.~ Luciendar says in a slightly bothered tone.
�Luna, can you jump to the tile two ahead of you?� Eclipse says from his current perch halfway up the wall behind her.
Cara, Clarice and Kabal follow the others down the left pathway.
DracBlue follows Cara down the left path.
Luna growls mentally. ~Geez, sorry I bothered you. Don�t know why I even brought you along.~ She nods at Eclipse, but doesn�t look back. Taking a deep breath as she steps to the edge of the tile she�s on, then uses that extra space to push off and jump over the bloody row. She lands in a crouch, ready to jump again if she�s wrong.
Seeing the bones, Skirmir narrows his gaze. Giving some space between him and the others, he transforms into his large red lion form.
DracBlue sees the bones and instantly his claws come out ready to attack.
The tile clicks softly, another correct choice. Eclipse gives a soft cheer.
Katie sighs, staying close and eyeing the tiles. �I concur. Couldn�t we have gone to the beach?�
Luna stands up shakily and looks around her now.
Something of large build moves quickly from the hole in the wall, almost too quick to see as it scales the statue and perches at the top. Two eyes blaze as they reflect the fireball�s light, it lets out a shrilled cry that pierces the air and resonates causing dust to shake from the ceiling of Katie�s group.
The tiles around Luna now are rather spotless, save dried drops from the tiles behind.
Katie jumps, starting to move behind Syne. Then she swallows hard and stands her ground. �Uh. Hullo, beastie,� she says in a hoarse whisper.
Kabal looks up at the creature, �Well now��
Luna moves, cringes as she steps directly forward.
DracBlue looks up at the creature. �Very nice,� he says sarcastically.
The tile ahead clinks down, something fast and metallic sweeps across the tile as it sinks below the others and cuts Luna�s feet.
�What the hell is that?� as Clarice looks up towards the ceiling when she sees the dust falling down from it.
The creature seems to study your group before crawling onto the ceiling. As it winds around the ceiling, several small scaly pods fall off and land on the floor around Katie�s group.
Luna jumps back to the safe tile behind her and growls in frustration as the top of her boot gets sliced open. �Damn, I just got these.�
Kyra moans and sways.
�Oh shit. Someone grab the kid.� Katie hisses.
Kabal catches hold of Kyra to make sure she doesn�t fall.
�We are close to getting it�� Wraith calls out to Luna.
The large creature shrieks again, the pods shudder in response. Syne glances at the pods closest to him, �That�s not good��
Luna yells back at Wraith, �IT better be good! Whatever IT is!� She steps forward, left.
Katie steps closer to Syne. �You think, Rogue?� Her voice sounds strained as she turns to check on Kyra, who waves away her concern and clings to Kabal.
The tile clicks safely under Luna�s step. Around the tile room, �clicks� sound from all the tiles. Once the noise dies down, the wall ahead of Luna grumbles, a large portion of it shifting aside to reveal a stairwell.
�Oh hell no.� Clarice encases one of the pods near her in ice.
The pods quickly break apart to form two large claws, a spiked tail and skinny legs, grey outsides contrasting the glowing red insides. They shriek in smaller voices and begin attacking.
�You did it, Luna!� Claron says in an excited sounding voice.
Wraith crosses the tile floor without pause, the tiles locked in position now. He eyes the stairwell leading down, �Well done, Luna.�
Luna walks forward and sits on the top step catching her breath. �Thank you.�
Skirmir pounces one of the creatures, exchanging clawed attacks with it.
Eclipse and Stryder cross the room towards the stairwell. Eclipse shakes Luna�s shoulder with his hand, �Good job, you okay?�
DracBlue tries to grab one of them and throw it at one of the other pod-like creatures.
Luna reaches across and lays her paw on top of Eclipse�s hand. �Yeah, just trying to calm my heart down.�
Valrash crosses the room, holding up the torch.
Shadow walks across the room nodding at Luna. �Great job.�
Tzaphiel flies across the room, then shifts back to her human form as she lands. �You go, girl.� She tells Luna as she steps into the stairwell.
Though thrown, the two creatures are quickly back on their feet, un-phased by Drac�s throw.
Another slashes Syne in the side. Growling, he shifts into his werewolf form, and swipes at it.
Cara swings Elexorian down on top of one of these ugly creatures.
Elexorian giggles lightly as it slices the creature head in half like cheese. The creature shrills weakly as it crumbles into grey dust.
The larger creature continues to wind its way along the ceiling, dropping pods to replace the slain ones.
Wraith continues down the staircase, ignoring the last few steps that take him waist high in water. Glancing ahead, he nods, �Beneath the pool of Dusk does Dawn await, but as two are one, must both be claimed as one.�
DracBlue tries to impale the two that he threw across the room at once.
The first is slain by Drac�s impalement, but the second rolls agilely to the side and brings both claws into Drac�s thigh.
DracBlue cries out in pain, but slashes both claws at the remaining one.
Kabal cuts one of the creatures in half with a stone blade, keeping an eye on Kyra as he fights.
The claws sever from their owner and turn to dust. The creature shrieks and collapses into a cloud of dust itself.
Tzaphiel follows Wraith down the steps and into the water. �I didn�t catch that.�
Kyra swings her sword at the creature in front of her, looking scared.
Katie gets pissed and skewers a critter. �Take that, meatball!!!!�
Cara continues to slice them with Elexorian.
The creature knocks Kyra�s sword from her hand with a claw, its tail twitches as it circles her.
Mauling another pod, Skirmir lets out a roar. �We must kill the mother beast!�
DracBlue takes off of the ground and slashes at the mother creature.
Tackling one of the creatures, Syne rips its arm off and skewers it with it before it turns to dust.
Cara swings Elexorian and cuts off the claw of the one trying to give Kyra a piece of tail.
Luna pushes herself to her feet and nods at Eclipse. �I�m alright, let�s go see what the next puzzle is.� She moves down the stairs with him.
The larger beast seems un-phased by the slash. Turning its head to Drac, it lashes out with its tail, batting him out of the air like a fly.
DracBlue lands on the ground with a thud. He looks up at the mother creature and growls. He then flies back up and tries again to slash at it, this time trying to catch a chunk of flesh, or pull it off the ceiling.
As Claron�s group reaches the bottom of the stairs, the water around them seems to fill most of the next chamber. Though it is only waist high, all of the room�s design seems to be on the floor.
Wraith trudges through the water looking at the floor. Halfway into the room, he pauses, looking down at a panel depicting a setting sun.
Luna wades thru the water and looks at Wraith, �Now what?�
�Swimming?� Tabris raises a brow as they enter the water.
Drac gets his wish and the creature is taken off the ceiling by his slashings, unfortunately, he is under it when it lands.
The giant beast snakes off Drac and growls. Looking like a giant komodo dragon, it bears no appearance to the smaller beasts and appears to have a large device on its back that had created the pods.
Arwyn rushes over toward DracBlue. Kneeling down beside him, she places her healing hands on him and begins to chant softly in Elven.
Claron moves beside Tabris in the water.
Syne downs the remaining pod and glances to the large lizard, �Now down to just you, big and scaly.�
�Now�� Wraith pauses and lowers into the water getting a closer look at the panel. Coming back up, without taking a noticeable breath, he nods, �We wait�the others must have been delayed��
Kabal looks over at Cara with a nod, �Flaming rock trick again?�
Katie blinks at the lizard. �Wow. Looks kinda like my sister-in-law in the mornings.�
Luna stands next to Eclipse waiting for Wraith�s signal.
�Remind me to never visit your in-laws,� Syne mutters to Katie.
Tzaphiel looks around the group as she stands in the water, trying to be patient.
DracBlue looks up at Arwyn. Obviously hurt, he mutters something that can�t be translated.
Kyra limps over to Katie, a slash on her hip bleeding heavily. �Next time, let ME choose our vacation spot.�
Kabal shakes his head, �Right�it�s been a while. Just light the damn things on fire.� Extending his hand, two small pieces break from the rock bracer and grow into large pointed boulders.
Cara nods her back at Kabal, �Flaming rock trick it is then.�
DracBlue gets up after being healed by Arwyn, �Thanks.�
Cara throws a flaming fire ball at Kabal�s hands.
Eclipse glances around the water, choosing to ignore several things floating in one of the far corners.
Kabal growls and punches both boulders, igniting them. Then sends them flying at the beast. The creature shrieks a piercing cry as it is impaled and burned. As the fires burn out, they leave the smoking creature pinned against the far wall, its lifeless head hanging just above the wedged open doorway.
Skirmir transforms back to his humanoid form. Dusting his hands, he looks at the creature. �Smells good enough to eat.�
DracBlue smiles. �I�ll join you if you want a slice.�
�You can enjoy the buffet later, you two. We�re moving on,� Syne rolls his eyes at Drac.
Katie shudders and herds Kyra toward the doorway.
Kabal motions to Arwyn, �Kyra is injured, she could use your magic.�
DracBlue sighs. �Fine, we�ll skip it for now,� as he heads to the wedged open doorway.
�I�m fine.� Kyra shakes her head, leaning weakly against Katie and wishing Stryder was with her.
Syne heads down the staircase. At the bottom, he glances around and notices a glowing panel on the floor.
Katie looks down at Kyra. �Yer awfully pale, little one. You sure yer alright?�
Kyra looks at her hip, which should have clotted. �Um. Yeah,� she says tiredly. �I�m fine.�
Arwyn nods her head in return and moves over towards Kyra and Katie. �Before we continue our journey let me heal that wound of yours.�
Arwyn reaches her hands down, places them gently on Kyra�s hip and begins to chant softly once again in Elven.
�Don�t,� Kyra gasps. �Don�t worry about it.� She presses herself into Katie.
As Syne steps onto the panel, the panel under the water by Wraith lights up as well.
Wraith nods, �They have reached it,� he ducks under the water as the panel slides away.
�Gah!� Syne calls out as the panel slides out from under him, causing him to fall hard against the floor of the chamber below.
DracBlue heads downstairs, saying, �You alright, Syne?�
Heading down the stairs, Skirmir perks his ears as he hears Syne fall.
Kyra jerks away. �I�m fine! Don�t touch me!�
�Darnier!� Katie snaps. �What the hell has gotten into you?� She gives Arwyn an apologetic look. �My apologies, Highness.�
�Ooof...good thing I have nothing to break, otherwise I might have,� Syne rubs his side as he stands.
Kyra looks sullen while Arwyn heals her.
Arwyn raise a brow at Kyra, then looks at Katie. �Healing will be difficult for those that choose to fight it,� as she withdraws her hands from Kyra.
Finishing the short swim, Wraith falls out of the water to the floor below. Looking up at the water suspended above him, he steps aside and waits.
�Down we go then,� Tabris says looking around at everyone before he swims down through the opening.
Katie looks at Kyra�s pale face. �You�re sick, Kyra. Aren�t you? Does Stryder know?�
Shadow swims down. �Fun times ahead.�
Kyra turns her face away, then gives a sharp nod. �He knows.� Her whisper is barely heard.
Claron swims down through the opening behind Tabris.
Valrash swims down as well. As soon as he hits the ground, he turns to a ball of flame, drying himself off.
Claron, Tabris and Shadow both reach the �bottom� of the water and land on the floor below. The water above casting an eerie blue light on the chamber. The areas beneath the panel are small, but it expands into a larger circular ceremonial chambers. Curving staircases and sweeping arches draw one�s gaze to the center platforms, where a glowing beam of light blocks view of something hovering in the air inside.
Skirmir judges the distance and jumps down through the opening. Landing on his feet carefully, he looks up.
DracBlue glides down the hole.
Eclipse looks at Luna with a nod, �Just like I showed you, remember to exhale.� He slips under the water to swim down.
Katie frowns, but her attention is caught by the panel�s movement.
Luna nods and takes a deep breath, then ducks under the water and swims down to the opening with Eclipse.
Eclipse drops out of the water alongside the others, glancing back up as Luna swims down.
Kyra eyes the hole.
Katie tightens her arm around her. �You think you can make the jump, if one of the boys catches you?�
Tzaphiel dives in and follows Luna.
Claron�s eyes are drawn towards the center platform. She begins to make her way towards it.
With a shaky breath, Kyra nods.
Luna swims thru the hole in the floor and falls out of the ceiling, landing on Eclipse with a thud.
Kabal turns and climbs down to hang from the edge of the opening before dropping. Stumbling a bit after he lands, he gets his balance with a heavy breath.
Tzaphiel goes thru the hole and does a flip in mid air. She lands on her feet with a smile.
Eclipse groans lightly and glances over his shoulder at Luna, �Ow��
�I think there�s something in it�� Claron mumbles as she gets closer to the glowing light.
Luna crawls off Eclipse. �I�m sorry, baby. Someone should have warned me about that first step.�
DracBlue flies up to the hole and holds out his arms to carry down one of the girls.
Katie gently lowers Kyra down through the hole.
Wraith looks over at Claron, �We must be sure they are retrieved at the same time!�
DracBlue grabs Kyra and glides down with her. Setting her down on the ground, he returns back to grab the next person.
Katie lowers herself through the hole and drops, twisting her ankle. �Fuck and bugger. Dammit!� She hisses and hobbles in a circle for a moment.
Cara follows Kabal�s lead. As she turns, she slides Elexorian into her belt. She climbs down and hangs, then drops down to the floor, lands on her feet then falls back on her ass.
Syne can�t help but smirk at Katie, �That entire fight and the drop gets you.�
Kyra extends a hand to Cara.
�Oh bite my ass, Rogue.� Katie leans on him for a moment, turning her foot this way and that, then puts weight on it and nods in satisfaction.
Walking up to the beam of light, Wraith looks at Claron, then at the object inside, �Sword of Dawn��
Arwyn looks down at the others below. �You expect me to jump down there? Think again.�
Cara takes Kyra�s hand.
Kyra winces with the effort it takes to pull Cara to her feet. Watching this, Katie frowns again in worry.
DracBlue flies up through the hole and grabs Arwyn. Then glides down with her and sets her on the ground.
Claron reaches hand up towards the Sword of Dawn.
Wraith watches as the beam parts around the sword. But an aura the color of a rising sun surrounds the blade.
Cara notices Kyra�s wincing, �What�s wrong?� She looks at Kyra, then Katie.
Syne looks towards the beam of light in the second chamber, �I think what we�re looking for is over there.�
Luna watches Claron reaching for the sword. ~Another of your kind?~ she asks Luciendar.
~Yes�Andrasil.~ Luciendar says quietly, her tone reflective.
Katie turns her gaze to where Syne is looking. �Ooooooh.�
Luna smiles softly. ~Is it another one you wish not to be around?~ She glances over at Eclipse.
~Here we go�I wonder if centuries sleep has made him any more�sociable.~ Morthoseth sighs in annoyance, tone indicative to dislike as it writhes in Eclipse�s head.
Katie steps closer to the light.
~No, he is fine. Not a big talker though.~ Luciendar comments, a hint of fondness in it.
The light parts for Katie, the dual-bladed weapon hovering in a sunset colored aura. Wraith nods to Claron, �Now, you may retrieve it.�
�So this is what the fuss is about?� Katie shrugs, reaching her hand out to it.
~It�s been ages...she hasn�t changed any.~ Elexorian speaks in Cara�s mind, a childish giggle in its voice.
Cara places her hand on Elexorian as she hears the childish voice in her mind.
Katie grips the sword, her eyes alight. �Hello, Precious.�
Claron grabs the sword out of the light.
The aura break away like glass, shattering into nonexistence. In a flash of light, everyone finds themselves in a large chamber. Wall high panels depicting a sunset and sunrise opposite each other. A staticy com signal comes to life on your com units, �---come in. This can�t be right�I�m reading them inside one of the asteroids.�
�Whoa. What a ride.� Katie stumbles and rights herself.
Kyra sits heavily on the floor, her eyes going dim.
Tabris blinks and looks around, noticing Katie and crew, he nods, �Looks like you guys got your prize too.�
Luna reaches back and draws Luciendar as she looks around the room.
Tzaphiel looks around confused. �What the hell just happened?�
Cara kneels down beside Kyra. ~Stryder something�s wrong with her.~
~Nothing�s wrong with Kyra.~ Kyra�s feeble mind-voice sounds irritated. ~I�m just tired.~
In Claron and Katie�s mind, a voice stirs, yawning as they awake from their slumber. A young woman�s voice slides across Katie�s mind, ~I wake�I am Valdris, who has come to claim my power?~ A man speaks for Claron in a reserved tone, ~What do you wish from Andrasil, mortal?~
Katie damn near drops the thing, as her eyes get huge.
~I wish I believed that�but I know better. I have heard some of your�s and Stryder�s thoughts.~ Kyra hears Cara�s voice in her mind.
Kyra swats Cara lightly. ~Never you mind.~ But she smiles a tiny smile of gratitude to her friend.
Claron looks down at the sword in her hand. ~I�ll let you know when I know myself, Andy.~
Katie eyes the sword. �I�m so losing my gourd. The metal is talking back.�
~Very well.~ Andrasil sighs, then goes silent again.
Luna sees Cara kneeling next to Kyra on the floor. She moves over quickly and kneels down next to her. �Kyra?� She lays her paws on the bloody spot on her hip healing the wound, but feeling there is more going on.
Alexei comes over the com, �Well�if that�s really you guys, I�ve got transporters ready for you.�
�Then I�m losing mine too, Katie. Cause mine just talked to me too.� Claron moves over close to Katie to take a better look at her sword.
Hesitantly, Katie thinks as hard as she can. ~Um�Katerina.~
~Well met, Katerina. So the time has come again to use my powers for the greater good?~ Valdris questions Katie politely, her tone sounding scholarly.
~Uh�yeah. Any and all help is greatly appreciated.~ Katie smiles then, starting to feel more comfortable talking to the voice in her head.
Kyra sighs. ~Besides, Cara�he�s been a little�preoccupied, lately. I�d rather not trouble him with trivial matters.~
�You guys alive down there?� Alexei questions the com again.
Luna shakes her head at Kyra as she stands up and moves back to Eclipse. Returning her sword to its sheath, she answers Alexei. �Yes, it is really us, Alexei. Ready when you are.�
~There seems to be a lot of preoccupation of people�s minds lately.~ Cara wraps an arm around Kyra.
�Right. Teleporting in 5,� Alexei says, a dull yellow light begins filling the chamber around you. Wraith looks at Claron and Katie, �Seven left��
After teleporting aboard the Ettik, you notice the general quarters alarms are flashing overhead. On the bridge, Alexei curses in Russian as he watches the Terran Alliance taskforce approaching.
�They�re hailing and demanding we surrender our discovery,� Sikozu says over the vid-channel.
�Ignore them, they�re between us and our jump point. We�re going to have to fight our way out�� Alexei sighs, then nods. �I know, Ettik�this could start a war, but I will not surrender to them. Sikozu, ready guns, we�re getting out of here one way or the other��