It's Time.

Raz opened his eyes one at a time, shaking his head and rubbing his eyes only to be reminded of his tied arms holding him in place. He pulled and snarled, the position in which he was forced to sleep in left him feeling horrible, his legs ached, his arms had grown tingly and numb, and there was a tickling feeling on his nose. Summoning his best strength, he pulled against the ropes hoping, begging if not for muscle then for his power to manifest in some helpful way in which to free him from this. It was bad enough he failed, but to realize Father would hold it to him just as he has before aggravated him deeply. No effect, a drop of sweat rolled down his face, sliding over his chin before dropping down. He closed his eyes, concentrating through huffs of air as he felt the blood rush to his face. When he looked up, he saw the drop of sweat bobbing in the air facing him as more sweat of his began to contribute to the droplet.

"So you can control it."

The shock of hearing someone apparently watching him when he was unaware snapped him out of focus, both the sweat and his spirit falling through into the soil below. He turned to see Dimyri sat near the tent flap, leg crossed with a wooden bowl in hand. She was dressed in a rather peculiar manner, a fine lime green tunic with an outline design of silver dialect wording around the end of her sleeves as well as around the cleavage. As she stood up, she paused to adjust the attire around her waist and pulled at the muddy brown leggings which squeezed around her firm and filling thighs rather beautifully, leaving little room to the imagination.

She wore shoes, that's the first. When he first met her she looked alike to a hermit with rags over her nude body, messy uncombed hair and walking around in bare feet, a complete outcast when placed among her sisters. But here as she stepped towards him he detected a hint of freshly picked cherries surrounding her presence, their was a nice blush to her cheeks which accentuated her soft yellow eyes. Her light brown hair was combed to one side with the ends now curled and bouncing nearly with each step she took. She was beautiful, amazing and appealing to the senses, and he wondered why put on such a display?

"Sorry, this thing kind of pulls at my butt a little." She whined, her hands holding the waist of her leggings before feeling comfortable in them. Turning around, she bent over and carefully scooped the bowl in her hands, her parted mouth and shaky breath hinting at her trouble adjusting to her human fingers. "This is harder than it looks."

Raz's eyes slid down her slim backside, analyzing her tunic until it reached her waist. He grew fixated on the firm curve that was her ass, pressed against the brown material struggling to remain confined. It wasn't that her ass was enormous or huge, he wondered and guessed they would fit under his hands well. He wondered how soft they would feel under his grip, the heat of her touch...

Wait, what am I thinking!?

Raz looked away as she turned to approach him, one trembling step at a time until the bowl was beneath his chin. He glanced down to see a sponge inside as she dipped her hand to retrieve it before applying it to his face. The cold feeling of smooth water on his hot red skin felt incredible, he sighed and relaxed as the evil thoughts of sin began to go away, replaced by the soothing contact of her hand wiping his forehead.

She does realize she is holding a bowl of water to my chest?

"Look down, you're filthy behind your ears and neck." She said, soaking the sponge and reaching over to scrub his head. He sighed, her smell was beginning to have an intoxicating effect to him as he felt tingly inside each time he took a whiff. Every moment she would dip the sponge, squeeze out its contents and scrub his head clean. He stared into the bowls contents, focusing hard as his fingers flexed and his muscles grew tense. Yes, the water rippled once then began to swirl a tiny bit, he has it. Just a little more...

He sneezed.

It wasn't intentional, the scent around her became too much and instinct took over to clean his nostrils. It disrupted his concentration when he heard a shriek. The bowl had fallen from her grasp as what little water remained jumped out and splashed on her chest. Dimyri squeaked and fanned herself, muttering to herself as if she were thinking out loud in panic.

He was stunned, "I'm sorry, I-"

"No it's-it was an accident, accidents um... Syri!" He looked over as the younger sibling poked through, her white cat ears raised in attention. Her green eyes shimmered under the dull light like jewels as she walked in on all fours.

"Wah?"

"Towel, please? I got wet." Dimyri mumbled, frowning at her sister's not too subtle giggle. "Now!"

"Towel, got it!" The Nekomata ran out in a hurry, the flap of the tent waving in the air briefly as Raz took notice of movement, a lot of it. In fact, once he took to listening he could hear plenty of voices and oots of friction, some bending of wood holding under pressure, a squeak of loose wheels followed by a pair of hooves stomping grass and dirt. What was going on out there?

Dimyri kicked the bowl away and sat back down, annoyed holding her tunic out to avoid it dripping down her waist and legs. Raz wanted to apologize but he could hear his father chastising him already.

Idiot, idiot, idiot! You had your opportunity and you ruined it! Don't tell me any nonsense of it being accidental, I saw your eyes wondering to her chest. You're a filth, a sinner, a de-

"Dewel!" Syri cried out, arriving with a towel between her teeth. Dropping it on her sister's lap, she smiled and bowed her head. "My lady."

"Shush, and thank you." Dimyri said, wiping her chest as soon as the towel was in her hand. Syri glanced over to Raz and lifted her chin suddenly, tipping her head back in a dismissive manner with her eyes closed.

"Hmph!" With that, she made her exit leaving the two alone one more. Now satisfied, Dimyri fixed her shoulder length hair, adjusting the bangs on her forehead before reaching behind her seat with another bowl in hand. His eyes lit up in excitement, perhaps fate was on his side as he discovered a second chance at escaping. Foolish girl, he thought to himself as she approached him once more, distracting me with your beauty, scent, and manners. Now is my time, I won't let you down Father.

As Dimyri removed her hand from covering the top of the bowl, Raz's heart sunk as he stared into a batch of freshly picked violet berries.

"What!" He fumed, gritting his teeth as she raised a berry between her thumb and index finger.

Dimyri raised her brow. "You need to eat, we're not going to have you starve under our care."

"I do not care for food, woman. Leave me be!"

"Oh, so I'm a woman now, not a cat?" Dimyri smirked. "That's progress. Stop making a fuss and eat your berries."

He shook his head as she pressed the fruit to his lips. He closed his eyes and turned away, hoping to concentrate on any residue of water soaked into the dirt below. Damn it, her scent was making it difficult for him not to think of her!

Dimyri frowned, placing the bowl down and crossing her arms. "Well if you want to behave like a child, then you'll be treated like one."

Suddenly his nose was pinched, he looked to see she remained adamant in feeding him. The berry pressed its smooth surface against his lips, he clenched his jaw shut and tried to turn away. The lack of oxygen was beginning to make his head spin, there was an odd oily residue from the berry rubbing against his bottom lip. Dimyri rolled her eyes as he shook and resisted until his strength began to weaken. He parted his lips for air and in the berry went, her hand holding his mouth shut.

"You better not spit it out." She frowned, staring into his eyes as he began to chew it down. His teeth punctured its oily surface as the sweetest juice bathed his tongue, rewarding his taste as he greedily swallowed it with haste. He looked disappointed, unable to savor its taste when she raised another berry to his lips. "Open."

He did so, allowing her to feed him one berry after another in awkward silence. She never moved her eyes away from his, both staring deeply in an attempt to read the others mind. He licked his lips and tasted something odd, something different and not natural to any fruit he's had before.

"Just so you know, we didn't look into your life. You want it private, so we're keeping it that way."

Raz's eyes lit up in surprise. "Th... Thank you?"

"Don't. We're not friends, you still hurt mine and you're responsible for my family and who knows who else being in that tower."

"Just you." Raz said as he yawned.

"What?"

Raz blinked and shook his head. "What I meant was, just your clutter. With one big exception."

"Well, still. We'll be taking you with us now, you won't be trying any funny ideas." She blushed as she noticed his eyes dart down and back up in a millisecond, instinctively crossing her arms. What gall. Raz noticed and turned red, feeling rather ashamed.

"You drop your guard and I will be taking you back. Both you and your sister."

"Good to know." Dimyri responded with a touch of disappointment to her voice. She clapped her hands, her breasts jiggling slightly through her action. Spi'Reto and Felix entered holding a sort of gurney between them, empty with a pillow settled on top. Raz raised his eyebrow, suddenly realizing a lack of strength in his arms and limbs. In fact, his eyes were beginning to feel heavy. Dimyri stepped in and rubbed his cheek with a gleam to her eye and a victorious smirk.

"Those berries may have had a little something to help make it easier for you to cooperate. Sweet dreams."

"I... hate you..." Raz managed to say, his eyelids falling down as he continued staring into her. Her luscious lips and white teeth was the last thing he saw before his vision turned to black as he hung his head down, defeated and dreaming peacefully.

"Alright, turn him in." Dimyri ordered, walking out the tent to find everyone else ready with their bags full and the horse cart equipped to maximum capacity. Glancing over to Alma sat at the end of the cart looking down, Dimyri asked, "Are we ready?"

"Certainly. Are you sure about this? I can be of help-"

"Help us by keeping them safe." Dimyri smiled, hugging her tight.

Alma sighed and nodded, touching the bandage around her chest to keep her broken ribs from further damage. "Keep my son safe, he's eager and willing but he's young and inexperienced."

"I know."

"So are you. This is it Dimyri, there is no turning back. We're all in until the end. Make sure to bring Emyri back in one piece. I want to stick it to her face when this is over."

"Heh, gladly!" Dimyri beamed, waving at Alma and the other villagers as the horse started up and on its way out, opposite to where the tower is. Looking back, she saw Nukka, Zimi, Syri, Janette, Spi'Reto, Nyitzcha, and Felix looking back at her as well as numerous other Nekomata cats waiting by.

Felix stepped forward and nodded. "We'll make them proud, he won't know what hit him."

Dimyri hugged him tight, feeling nervous and tense all around. "Thank you, for keeping us safe, and for looking after my sister."

"Not yet I haven't." Felix hugged her back before breaking away as everyone looked over beyond the jungle trees to see the very point of the black tower waiting for them.

"It's time, let's go save our clutter."