Can't Do This Alone

"Why did you do it?" Dimyri asked.

She and Raz led the way forward through the double iron doors, calmly observing the surroundings of the hall which seemed to be the aftermath of a calamity. Several bodies lying on the floor or against the stone wall, their weapons and bits of armor scattered around. Ori'chi and Janette were careful in stepping around such items, with Janette keeping fixated on Syri's condition. The young Nekomata slept peacefully in her stance, the tone in her skin had returned to normal to a point where there was a soft blush in her face. If it weren't for current conditions, Janette would feel her heart grow warm at the sight. A sudden nudge from one of the surrounding possessed Nekomata reminded her to keep up the pace to the others.

"B-B-Big." The scared Nekomata muttered as her eyes scanned around the enormous room. Her fur was standing on end and her tails were twitching nervously. She swallowed and clenched her jaw shut so as to stop her teeth from rattling.

The group paused when they arrived to where the large crystalline structure should be, now left as a crater with soot and residue as evidence of a fierce explosion. Raz raised his brow before leading the group around only to find the lift platform missing from the ground floor. Puzzled, he looked at Dimyri who shrugged sheepishly in return.

"I was outside, you know that."

Raz shook his head and approached the lift, tugging at the chains left behind. No response, he peaked down the lift and called out for someone when a brief noise was heard below.

"Who's there?" Raz asked.

A slight whisper, the sound of shifting rocks and debris echoed down the hole before a feminine voice answered back. "Ouch."

"Mesa, what are you doing down there?"

"Father Perdilius requested that I initiate an ambush for the intruders. It had been a success until the little one surprised us with explosives."

"Are you hurt?"

"I do have a splitting headache sir, and the control sphere has been shattered to my shame. I have failed."

Raz motioned for some of the Nekomata's to approach him, requesting them to help her. They simply stared through him before tilting their heads, their furry cat ears twitching at his irritated reaction. Right, he thought to himself before pondering what to do next. Kneeling beside the lift, he cupped his mouth to shout back at the maid below.

"Mesa, can you walk? I'm sending the girls to meet Father upstairs, I'll be back soon."

"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir."

Raz stood up and had the girls follow him upstairs, his eyes scanning the debree and aftermath of whatever happened around them as they traveled upwards. Dimyri glanced back at Janette sharing a look of concern, silently begging her to turn away. Janette ignored her and kept her eyes forward, irritating the Nekomata in return. What troubled Dimyri most was Ori'chi, it was evident that she was growing nervous with every step after entering the large structure, the poor girl was not supposed to volunteer for this. She closed her eyes, she will do her best to protect Ori'chi and Janette however she could. Even if it was impossible.

"Why did you do it?" Raz looked at her as she repeated her question. "Why did you turn us over?"

"What do you expect I do, turn against my father's wishes and let your girl's run free?" He asked back, facing forward to avoid her glare.

Dimyri scoffed. "Just when I thought you had a glimmer of a heart and a shred of backbone, you prove me wrong."

"Be silent, you're only aggravated because I'm not turning on him in hopes of somehow through my alliance being able to stop him and save your clutter."

"You saved Syri's life." She reminded him.

Raz brushed this aside. "Father needs her alive for the cleansing of her sins. We can't save her of herself if she's gone, I'm not a killer."

"Guess burning down houses is the exception." Janette muttered in a snide remark to them.

Raz flinched and rubbed the side of his head, raising his voice in response. "That was never my request, Father ordered it be that way. Who am I to question him?"

"So if he asked you to kill us, would you?" Dimyri countered back. "Because you're either his pawn or his victim, but I doubt he sees you as a son."

"Shut up." Raz shook his head, his feet gaining speed as they continued up the dreaded stairs. "Before you say something spiteful."

"Right. Just to make it clear where we stand, a Nekomata's claws can be quite a sharp contrast to the soft squishy flesh of man. I know you can't order these girls around, they're just guiding us upstairs. They need us, but do they need you?" Dimyri hissed, her eyes darting back to her possessed cat girls. "I wonder, would they even be bothered?"

"You're speaking out of line. Father wouldn't allow my life to be in dang-"

SLAP!

Raz stepped back, holding his reddened cheek and staring in shock. Dimyri's eyes burned and her hand seemed set like a stone slab ready for an encore should he deserve it. Ori'chi gasped, nearly dropped Syri by mistake when reflexes demanded she jumped away from danger. Her fur shot up as if lightning had struck and her breathing became short and anxious momentarily. Janette paused and stared at the two as well, glancing around waiting for the other girls to pounce, sharpen their claws and surround them as the last thing they would see. She almost felt like cussing at Dimyri for ending their lives, even Ori'chi squeezed her eyes shut in anticipation.

The girls remained motionless, unresponsive, not a care in the world. They were staring forward, so it was no question as to whether they saw it or not. They just didn't care, they calmly waited for the group to continue moving forward. No claws were revealed, no change in their stance aside from the soft twirl of a tail here or there.

"Are you mad?" Raz asked, eyes wide in a mix of anger and shock. His fists were ready, not that he dared but his body stood in preparation to defend himself should she continue.

Dimyri lowered her hands to her slender waist and glared at him. "No, just showing you the truth. Be happy I don't have any claws."

With that, she pushed him to the side and walked past, leading the group once more. The other cat girls waited for Janette and Ori'chi to move through before following behind them. Raz stood watching them, waiting as each cat girl slipped through and turned their back to him. Looking down, he could feel the sting to the bruise she had inflicted on him yet somehow it hurt him to his core. He looked down to his quivering hand before forming a fist and gritting his teeth, wanting to scream as loud as he could then and there. But he didn't, he took a deep breath and raced to keep up with them.

"The Great Schism? You're referring to Archaic mythology, about the Monster Girls' origins?" Spi'Reto asked with a puzzled look, placing his arrow back into its quiver. Mostly everyone in the room turned to stare at him as if he were a stranger who entered the wrong house. "You guys don't know about the stories?"

Na'Vi shrugged, Felix and Nyitzcha stood by waiting for the young archer to fill them in on the missing information. Leone kept still with the keys dangling by his finger, seeming rather impatient and tapping his foot to remind them to make haste.

Spi'Reto cleared his throat, pressing his thumb against his chin as he explained it to them. "Long ago, it was said that the land was occupied by beings of unimaginable power, living embodiments of the elements which we take for granted. We don't know what made these beings come to exist, but we do know they did not care for each other well. Conflict arose, a war to prove which one is best began and ended with one final survivor floating among the dark skies. It is said that the blood of these beings was left scattered through the dark void of nothingness, and that it glistens in the night sky to this very day. Through thousands and thousands of years, this being lived in eternal solitude. Committed to create a better life for himself, this being was driven mad from loneliness and in a desperate attempt to create life, it tore itself apart. Seven daughters were born from his blood each containing a part of their fathers power with them. These would be the creators, each goddess would be praised and honored for granting us so much, but like the beings before them the daughters too had begun to grow jealous of what the others would create. Creating life was no longer an invention but instead competition, each Goddess was determined to create the perfect followers. Elves, Dwarves, Gnomes, Humans, Giants, all of us were created by one goddess or another."

"Just like dat, de cycle continues ay see." Nyitzcha remarked in fascination, lowering her head.

"You mean we are just a part of some gods measuring imaginary dick sizes to each other?" Reta snorted, smiling and shaking her head. "That's so absurd and ridiculous that it might just be true."

"It's what the story says, Mum taught us them when we were younger." Spi'Reto turned over, his sight settled on the Nekomata hiding her face from him. "Na'Vi, you remember the tales yes?"

"I-I guess, but I never understood it. It was fun when we were younger but Mother stopped taking us to see you guys as we grew older and she wouldn't say why."

"You were maturing through puberty and neither tribe wanted any grandchildren yet." Leone filled them in, stepping forward with the key in hand. Spi'Reto at first stood his ground, he scowled back and kept his fingers brushing along the string of his bow. Leone stood facing him, patiently waiting for the young elf to nudge. Neither wanted to move, however Spi'Reto noticed he was alone facing this man. One glance to the others told him enough, he was reluctant but he stepped aside to let the hunter pass.

Leone slid the key in, turning it as a metal click echoed from the lock. He pressed a hand against the door and pushed lightly, frowning before turning they further more when the sound of two more locks was heard. Now the day was left ajar with Leone waiting for them to enter.

"Perdilius will be waiting at the top floor of this peak, you should hurry if you are to stop him."

"Ay about dat," Nyitzcha rose her voice she helped Felix push himself against the wall, struggling to stand on his feet. His legs gave way and he slid back down, groaning and flinching in pain. "Me hubby s'not doin' well, damn burnt out 'is fuel, he sure did."

"I'll be fine, I'm just a little winded." Felix groaned, glancing at his friends Spi'Reto, Na'Vi, and Reta. "You guys keep going, I'll catch up soon."

They glanced at each other, with Na'Vi seemingly puzzled. "You want us to move without you?"

"I'm not the only one who loves her Na'Vi, and I can't do this alone. Thank you for saving me earlier, I owe you. No wonder KuliKuli loved you too." Felix shyly smiled, making the Nekomata turn red.

"Oh shut up," Na'Vi turned her back to them, looking down at her paws before swallowing and brushing the sweat off her forehead. "If you keep talking I might start to hate you again."

"Well come on, let's skip the feels and go rescue a damsel!" Reta shouted, pushing the two out the door before looking back at the hunter. "You're not-?"

Leone shook his head. "You're on your own, my contract forbids me from physically sabotaging his objective. I can't help you in a fight, I'm sorry."

"That's fine I guess, I'm glad you're not a total ass. After this you really need to step up your fatherly role here." She acknowledged before hurrying up with the others. Leone sighed and closed the door behind them, leaving the key in the lock as he stood back with only him, the boy and the dwarf now alone.

"I know."