The Father

Nukka fell back on her big butt, scratching her head and aimlessly wondering from one face to another as she tried to read the room. People seemed hurt, dirty and tired. She wiped the sweat from her brow, fanning herself and catching her breath.

"Stairs no like bears." She groaned, stretching her neck. Her big black eyes glared down at the half-man half-giant who stood before her, surpassing his height by hands length. Her face scrunched, her brows crept, her teeth exposed as she uttered a mighty growl whilst her thick brown fur stood on edge, seemingly waving in sync as if her fur became a ripple of water flowing and spreading across. With two heavy paws slowly lifting above her head, Perdilius felt lost staring into the dark abyss that was her eyes seconds before her strength swung down like a guillotine.

He took the full **** of her impact using his forearms as a shield, the sheer strength burying his feet several inches into the crumbling bricks below as if they stood on loose snow. Felix felt his hair fly back and his eyes grow wide, witnessing the fearsome power in the mind of someone with her mental state sent shivers down his spine. He questioned if she alone could prove to be the edge they required, the turn of the battle perhaps, would victory become a possibility at last?

From up above, Janette hurriedly flipped several pages while glancing up into the shocked eyes of her captured friends, unable to hear their noises as Syri continued slamming her palm into the prison surrounding her. The shield rippled as all three sisters began to feel a weird tickling sensation over their bodies. KuliKuli raised her paw and pulled back as she realized she was becoming transparent. They were losing their color and soon after, their solid forms. Janette stared in horror as they were slowly forming a turquoise aura outlining their bodies, revealing a subtle dark shadowy presence in their core. It looked malignant, like a black orb somehow staring into her soul, swimming around in their chests as a gentle white shape peaked from within its own center.

"Vardare, what is it doing? What's happening to them, and what is that inside them?" She shouted, realizing the ritual was creating strong winds as she now required both hands to keep Vardare still. "How do I stop it?"

To her relief, it spared no time to answer.

You seem upset, the situation appears to be one of distress and urgency.

"It is, will you please help me stop this!?" She plead tearfully.

If time is of the essence, I cannot write it out for you. I can show you. But J'Nette, one cannot simply stop a ritual once it has begun. You can't halt the process, but you can redirect it. I've known you since you were a toddler, gifted in the art of literature with a thirst for knowledge and the curiosity of a cat. The ritual is set for a sacrifice, the demand must be kept. Someone will die.

Janette swallowed and wiped her eyes, why was Vardare writing to her in this personal way? Like it was somehow watching her this entire time, like a guardian. She stared back to her friends, locking eyes with each one, KuliKuli, Syri, Dimyri. Her eyes focused, her tears gone as she answered with a voice of determination.

"Do it, show me."

This will feel strange, but do not worry for I have faith in you, Ms. Cicarrio. Place me on the lectern, then stand in between the three sisters. You will feel an odd sensation surround you, be calm. I will be guiding you, trust me.

'Trust you, right.' Janette did as was instructed, those words repeating in her head. She placed Vardare down and stepped in the middle of the ritual, careful to avoid those spiritual hands reached for her feet. The ground where she stood on began to glow, looking back she noticed Vardare was now hovering several feet in the air building up speed as it spun so fast it appeared as a brown sphere. She gasped once the aura around her feet climbed her legs and spread across her body. Her body began to lose its solid form, her hands becoming ghostly as she could see right through them. True to Vardare's word, it felt as if there was cold running water passing under her skin, sending a chilling yet soothing feeling into her.

Raz began to recover on his feet, watching the scene unfold.

Janette felt the ground sink beneath her feet. She would be sweating if it wasn't for the strong winds erupting from this process. Looking down, she felt troubled when she realized the floor didn't cave under but she in fact was levitating in the air. Her eyes grew as a voice whispered in her ear.

Are you ready?

She nodded, the world speeding through her as the image became a blur.

Perdilius found himself struggling with Nukka, their strength seemingly matched as they locked hands and paws with outstretched arms glaring at each other. Nukka squeezed her eyes tight, feeling a drop of sweat roll down her forehead as she **** herself to step forward once, then twice. Perdilius stared with wide eyes, feeling his feet slide back inch by inch by this monstrous Grizzly. Feeling a sense of panic, he let go of her paws and held onto her forearms, using her **** against her by stepping aside and throwing her forward. Nukka fell forward, her chin dragging on stone. As Perdilius stepped over her, he clasped his hands together and raised them over his head ready to strike.

Felix lept in from behind, locking his arms around his neck and pulling back. Both men drew a series of sharp breaths and grunts as Na'Vi took the opportunity to claw at his legs, forcing him onto one knee. Spi'Reto reached for his dagger whilst Nyitzcha dug around the loose gravel and brick from the rubble behind them, searching for her belongings.

Perdilius shook his reddened head and reached back, grabbing Felix by the back and tossing him forward onto the young elf. Na'Vi swept in and lunged left and right and back, punching and jabbing and slicing at his chest. He took it, bearing the stinging pain with gritting teeth before spreading his large arms wide and catching her head in between. Both his hands surrounded her skull, nearly covering her head from their size difference and lifting her in the air. Nukka lunged in from his side, Felix heard the priest yell in pain as the Grizzly sunk her teeth into his shoulder. His thick skin fell under the strength of her jaw, but she was soon countered by a blow to her chest knocking the wind from her lungs.

Felix expelled all of his nerves through a might yell, pushing himself off his feet and meeting his clawed nails toward Perdilius' face. A few drops of blood flew in the air, staining the wall as one man found himself thrown across the room by hand. The impact broke through fragile brick work, the structure struggled under the changing environment of coursing energy and spiritual hands breaking through every crevice. Felix found himself buried into another room, his head trapped under Perdilius' hand. The elf joined in and landed a kick in the air, knocking the giant back by one step with an audible grunt. Drawing his dagger, he aimed it to his heart but Perdilius moved with him in time, grabbing his forearm with one hand and holding his hair with the other. Forcing him to drop his weapon, the beast landed a quick blow into his chest. The impact was felt throughout the room, although his eyes could not be seen blood began dripping down his chin.

BA-BOOM!

"Yah-AAHH!" Perdilius dropped him, bending forward as the blast scorched his back further. Staring back, he locked eyes with a bruised and tired dwarf woman, spitting aside and raising another pouch in her small hand. The speed at which this man moved shocked her to her heart and pinned her feet like weights, she couldn't move in time as he stood over her ready to strike. When suddenly another blow struck his face appearing from behind her as Na'Vi rolled onto the ground and stopped, her long hair hiding her face. She turned left and locked eyes with Felix, nodding her head hoping he would get the message. He stood frozen for a brief second, acknowledging her message wondering if she meant it. Without a moment to argue, he nodded back and just as Perdilius stepped forward to hit her, Felix jumped in hitting the priest with a knee to his chin.

Now Felix stood behind the man. Perdilius shook his head and turned to retaliate, his mistake in turning his back on Na'Vi who took the advantage to claw at his back. When he turned, Felix jumped forward and landed another blow. The pattern repeated, her kick to his shin, his punch to his face, a claw to his arm and a swipe at his waist. One by one, both of them complimented the other as they swung and thrust in a way that reflects the other. Left, right, right, swing. Right, left, right, swing. Felix repeated these words to himself, struggling yet managing to dance with Na'Vi as they continued abusing the poor man who stood as a victim to their technique.

Nyitzcha had been tending to Spi'Reto, lifting his head in her arm and checking to see his injuries. The elf was still awake, albeit coughing profusely with a hoarseness to him. Both were staring in awe at this ongoing technique that was being performed a few meters ahead of them.

"Da fuck is dat?"

"That," Spi'Reto coughed to his side, wiping his chin. "That's Tat Tat."

Perdilius felt his eyes turn red, he had been shielding himself with crossed arms taking the **** from their attacks long enough. When he noticed one leg jump off from the wall close to him, he reached in and grabbed them. Felix fell hard on his head, feeling dazed as for a moment his body reacted and felt pain surge in him again. The priest formed a malicious smile through his bloodied face, using him as a weapon to slam Na'Vi against the wall knocking her ****. Felix felt his nose begin to leak, his body dragged before he was tossed aside like a used rag.

"That's enough." Perdilius wiped his face as Na'Vi entered the room with wobbly legs. "You people are unfit, terrible fighters, and a mockery of my time."

"They are amateurs, but if you ask me that just makes you less of a challenge seeing what a mess you are." Felix opened his eye as a paw stepped beside him, a bushy tail sweeping the ground behind. He recognized that voice, but it had been weeks since he had seen those paws again. It had been longer still since the first time he saw them pinning him down, claiming him for herself. She felt her kneel down before she lightly brushed his brown hair, inspecting the wound on his head. "You baka, not dying on me are you?"

Felix managed to smile, turning his eye to see Reta smiling back with her glowing yellow wolf eyes. "Just tired. Think... you can join?"

"Would be my pleasure."