Cease

Dimyri felt her feet moving on their own, retreating without her command as Perdilius stepped forward at a slow and deliberate pace. Behind her, Reta ceased her movement and pressed the wounded kitty to her breast as both Zimi and Syri hid behind her ankles. Perhaps if it had been only him, they could face their fears and rush forward. After all, they were many and he was but one, however as the doors opened wider behind his presence they began to feel a sense of dread and defeat upon view of the opposing force blocking their only path to salvation. Too many soldiers with their spears drawn, the tips pointed straight towards them.

As the Priest stepped forward, so to did his fleet of followers. Gently and agonizingly they pushed the girls back one foot at a time, with Dimyri frantically begging herself to think of a way out. From the other end of the hall was the giant pink gem mounted above, awaiting for them to submit and glimpse at its presence for complete hypnosis. Not even a window lay about to give them a bit of hope, only peril remained.

A rock and a hard place.

"Don't look back, girls." Dimyri whispered quickly as she could once she regained her voice after recovering from shock. Her lips felt dry and her head began to sweat as the bigger man smiled before her.

"Submission is divine, there is courage in accepting one's fate. Kneel." Perdilius grinned, lifting his chin as several of his men positioned themselves next to him with shields this time.

Much to their surprise, a low mixed cat wiggled her way forward, sneaking from between her oldest siblings feet before placing her bottom onto the hard floor, her ears raised, yellow eyes challenging the man in return. Everyone held still as this cat bared its fangs in a hiss before squeezing its eyes shut, stretching forward as it began to grow suddenly. Fur shrunk down and was replaced by soft skin, ears began to accommodate to her size as she transformed from a cat to a five foot Nekomata between both groups. Standing on her hind paws, KuliKuli took a step forward in defiance.

"We're not giving up." She said to them, bringing a slight hue of amusement to the soldiers as they chuckled amongst themselves.

Perdilius had lost his grin, switching into a scowl as this girl stood up in reluctance to challenge him. "You're out of your league, Cat. Your no avid fighter, barely a threat with those claws."

"Yea? Well we managed to kick your butts with nothing but claws and kicks." Reta snickered, squeezing Na'Vi lightly as the proud kitten nodded in agreement.

Syri stood up side by side with her sister, now in Nekomata form as well as her tail coiled over Dimyri's hand. "We're not going out without a fight, so why don't you leave us alone you bully!"

Zimi tilted her little cat head, feeling tingly inside at such a display cemented when Dimyri and Syri both stood next to KuliKuli as well, nervous but brave in defiance.

Perdilius chuckled. "Well your kind certainly are a bothersome nuisance when in your clutter, but I'd be entertained to see this courage when you're alone. You should know Nityri, displaying such a brave face back then when you became mine."

Yours.

Such words from him brought a surge of anger and hatred through her body, she felt a lack of control as her claws threatened to extract for combat. Her fur stood on edge and her tails became tense and stiff as she narrowed her sights.

This brought a wider grin in his smug face, showing his perfectly white teeth as he could see right though her. For a moment she had felt his hands around her, touching her, feeling her, his words commanded and she obeyed while under the influence of the collar.

"You see it now, don't you? You know you have me to thank for your existence. Father had enlisted you to be beheaded till I intervened. No, I couldn't let you die, not like that anyhow."

"Why don't you back up your bite and step up, eh?" Reta called out to him, "Unless you're only tough with those points sticks aimed at us. I thought priests were supposed to be faith bringers, spreading the word or some shit like that. Not cultist killers."

"You hold no stake in this quarrel, pest. Your inexistence would ring bells to my ears, hold thy tongue and stay in your place."

"Yea!?" KuliKuli held her paw out, urging the young woman to step back. Huffing, Reta reluctantly pulled away from her outburst, slowly easing her breathing to relax. "Bitch."

"Much better." Perdilius sighed, stepping one foot closer. "Let us resign now and go back to your little cage. How you managed this far is a mystery, but not an obstacle. For you."

He pointed directly at Dimyri as he said this. "Once your spell is ridden and you revert back to your little demon form, then the ritual may begin."

"What ritual?" Syri asked.

The priest sighed, seemingly annoyed as his hands fell to his sides. "Purity, a cleansing of the highest order. Does that satisfy your curiosity, little cat?"

Syri recoiled at his glare. "You could be a little more vague."

"Enough, this isn't some drawn out play or theater. Grab the creatures and dispose of the woman to the far left." He ordered, much to their horror. The men were happy to submit, stepping in unison as they pushed the girls back further and further.

"Don't look back!" Dimyri shouted, making her warning clear. KuliKuli nodded and yelped, frightened as she had accidentally stepped on Zimi's tail.

"Sorry! Sorry." She looked around, her eyes noticing the numerous torches and banners decorating the walls. "Dimy?"

"Yea?"

"Fire."

"What?" Dimyri looked puzzled, a bit out of breath as panic had begun to set in.

"Fire!" KuliKuli shouted, holding a worried Syri and her friend Reta with each paw. It took a second for Dimyri to catch on, blinking as an idea had formed.

"Fire!" She repeated, pulling a banner and tearing it from it's hold.

"Put! That! Down!" Perdilius fumed. A second look and Dimyri could tell why, it heled the image of the flower of which they cherished rather fondly of, seeing how this was their symbol. Now, a tad of malicious payback entered her head as she smiled in return.

"Your call." She obeyed, throwing it down in front of them. KuliKuli swatted one of the torches out of its post, throwing it onto the banner as it caught fire instantaneously. This shook the soldiers as the front row stammered and held in place, before Reta reached for another banner and tore it down. Syri reached for a nearby torch, following in hurling it down and setting the second banner in flames. Now both sides had subsided, seizing their gripes and standing clear away from the line of fire between them.

Dimyri brushed a strand of hair away, standing back as KuliKuli looked through the fire to find him. His anger remained suppressed however his fury was clear.

"We're more than cats, Per-dy." Some of the girls snickered as KuliKuli continued, "You want us? Come and get us."

As if on cue, they spun around with most of the girls closing their eyes. "Give me your tails! Eyes closed!"

"Where are we going?" Syri wondered, breathing as they crowded back into the wheel. Turning around, they could see the soldiers were starting to put the fire out.

"Keep away." KuliKuli responded as their wheel began to lift them up.