40 The Calm Before the Storm

From the floorboards of Skyworld, the scene panned to a bed within the room, showing Kloud laying under the covers. His previous wounds had been bandaged up, a he laid there with minimal clothing. However, he appeared very sick, with an infection to his recent injury. Luckily, Ayame was by his side, taking care of her feverish lover. In the hallway, leaning against a wall just outside the room, was Elliot. The Leashed's arms were crossed, glancing into the room, as he watched in concern.

"Kloud... Please pull through this... you have to be strong." Ayame spoke softly, as she took a wet rag to his brow.

"...." Kloud was panting, but the fever prevented him from speaking. He was weakly peering to Ayame, but no words crossed his lips.

"I love you... I don't know what would become of me if you... if you.." Ayame's voice cracked, as she started to cry. She held to his hand, as tears stream down her cheeks.

Kloud tried to smile, reaching for her face to wipe away the tears. Still his voice remained silent.

"...." Elliot turned his gaze away from them, as the view faded into the dark path of the castle corridor.

The scene panned in from light was shining from the rising twin moons outside, in through a glass window of an Angel from the high walls of the castle. Below was what seemed to be a war council around a large round table. Aoba sat there with the elites of his Templar knights, for war talks. However, not all appeared to be present, as several empty seats lined the circular table, including Ayame's and the seats of the traitors.

"So many empty chairs here. With the vast amount of treason afoot, you would assume my most loyal followers would at least make an effort to be present at this council meeting." Aoba spoke up to his knights, as he struggled to keep his usual whimsical demeanor.

"Most holy. You needn't dwell upon Ayame's absence. She is but tending to her, well, sickly lover. Hmhmhm." Merric leaned his cheek playfully to his knuckles. His eyes turned to Dimitri, who sat beside him. "What are your thoughts, dear brother?"

"I suggest that you stop your idiotic babbling... Though... To think an infection could have emerged from a simple flesh wound. 'Tis most curious." Dimitri held his chin, his face however was permanently scarred from his duel with Ashewyn. "Even so, Gaigas is present, despite his partial 'stone flesh' condition. They should not be absent. "

Gaigas sat in silence, on the far end of the table with some of the others. He seemed disgruntled with his condition, but had nothing to say. Manik sat not far from Gaigas, but he kept his attention on Aoba. Phish however, was gazing at Dimitri from his opposite, while Merric seemed to be giving her the death glare. The two didn't seem to like each other much. Lyra grew bored with the silence, deciding to speak up.

"Perhaps it's time for someone else to take over Ayame's duties then. Dawdling with that simpleton when she should be present in court." Lyra scoffed, clearly unamused by this. "He's bound to die anyway."

"He's tougher than he looks, Lyra. Stormy will pull through this." Flint retorted.

"Isn't it Trigger's fault Kloud's in this predicament to begin with? Yet you still seem to care for her." Skyletra mocked.

"..." Trigger averted her eyes, trying to detain her irritation on the matter.

"Our tactician has a point." Lyra chuckled. "Look at her, she's not even denying it."

"Enough! I did not summon you all here to banter on about that pathetic excuse of a knight, nor to point fingers at whose to blame. Mark me, I will have order here!" Aoba lost his temper slamming his first into the table.

The court silenced, with all eyes on their king.

"Now that I have your undivided attention. We have more important matters that need repair. A solitary whore not only managed to steal alliances from my grasp, but her barbaric Angel of death, this bloody Jackyn fellow, murdered hundreds of my guards! I am beyond outraged that these treacherous monsters managed to escape from my soirée, and their actions against my men! I want them all captured, flogged, and put to death in the most gruesome manner possible!!....." Aoba took a breath, as he was trying to calm himself down.

"The Templar forces shall not rest until they have been found, I assure you, Grand Master." Skyletra stated, confidently.

"I don't care if you have to summon back our men from that witch hunt. That woman and her followers must not elude me another fortnight! Is that understood!?" Aoba grew stern.

"Ser!!" The elite knights replied, as they saluted their king.

Meanwhile, Nye and company soon arrived at the lower end of the bog, ascending the stone staircase in the rear entrance of knothole. As they reached the summit of the old architecture, Nye parted from the others to step inside the stables. Ashewyn entered Knothole first, followed by Zyron and Solitaire. Jackyn however leaned against the balcony, as he awaited Nye. After Nye had sent the Phoenix into the night sky, she approached Jackyn. She wrapped her arms around him, hugging Jackyn from behind, with her cheek pressing into his long raven colored hair.

"You really should get some rest, Jack." Nye spoke softly, as she released him.

"I'm not the only one." He replied, as he turned around to face her, and carefully took Nye's bandaged hand to kiss the top of it.

Inside Knothole, Solitaire and Zyron had already reached the upper level, and Ashewyn halfway up the staircase. They watched as Jackyn brought Nye inside with him, and noticed Molliana running up to them, to hug Nye.

"You're back!" Molly gasped, peering up to the surprised expression on Nye's face. It shifted to a soft smile however, as he realized how much the little cyclops was worried about her.

Nikolai appeared to her side, looking up to Nye as well with what was likely relief or happiness. "Mistress you've returned" Nikolai said, but as always he was a hard one to read with his nonexistent expressions.

Adam even came to Nye's side, relieved to see her. "I'm happy you're alright." He said, in a quiet tone.

Pneuma and Runfaust observed this with relief from over at the bar, as the others gathered around her. "Well Pneuma, seeing Nyghtmare's returned safely, do you still intended to tell her?" Runfaust glanced over to her.

The older female Amygdala turned her gaze over to her lover. "I have decided to leave the subject alone for the time being. As much as I wish to train her, It's best if I not involve myself too closely. Nyghtmare has enough emotional attachments with that Dream Weaver. Amalgamation species, or any type of darkling, can be so fragile in health. Refraining from speaking of her parentage at this moment may be wise, while she recovers from the situation she only just escaped from."

Molliana had released Nye, but nervously kept behind her to avoid Jackyn, with a fearful gaze. "I doubt it not." Runfaust peered over to the younger ones with his various eyes, he clearly held disapproving feelings focused on Jackyn. "We know not what went on up in Skyworld, though it remains to be seen what that Dream Weaver has going on in that mind of his. Then there's the matter of that feline going missing."

Pneuma placed her hand to his arm to calm him down, looking to him as his head shifted towards her. "Let them rest for now, we can speak with Ashewyn on those matters."

"If you think that is best." Runfaust replied hesitantly, behind a cold tone.

"I do." Pneuma tried to reassure him.

They continued to observe as Nye and Jackyn parted from the others and proceeded up the stairs. Jackyn was stumbling a bit on his false leg, but Nye took his hand to help him keep his balance. The two of them continued upstairs, reaching Nye's chambers, where Nye released her grip to turn to her wardrobe.

"I've had just about enough of this dress." She remarked, touching the overly fringed tears of the long skirt.

"So change out of it." Jackyn replied, as he sat down on the bed to remove the boot from his False leg, before taking that off as well. This allowed his stub some air.

"Don't care for this tattered mess either?" Nye teased, before taking a spare change of her usual attire from a hanger inside the wardrobe.

"..." Jackyn grew silent, watching with uncertainty as Nye went behind divider curtain to change.

After a brief moment, Nye reemerged in her usual attire, peering down to Jackyn's unsure expression. "What's that look for?" She asked, playfully.

"... I was half concerned you were thinking about..." Jackyn averted his gaze, letting his irises linger to the lower corner of his eyes.

"What? No. Not in the slightest..." She seemed surprised, before proceeded over to where he sat. "I figured you were aware that female Amygdala can't-"

Jackyn returned his gaze to her, seeming relieved by her words. "Honestly... I assumed it was more along the lines of don't want, rather than can't. I'm so used to being around company that like that sort of thing." He admitted, sheepishly.

"In a way it's both... But what are Jackyn's thoughts on that subject?" Nye explained, taking a seat next to him.

"No interest. Isn't it like that for most darklings?" He replied, looking to the woman beside him.

"Not usually. Amygdala yes, but hybrids typically have different genetic structures." Nye smiled.

Jackyn was somewhat stunned by this, and anxiously replied. "You sure? I figured most didn't-and here I got after that friend of yours for assuming- "

"Jackyn." Nye placed her arms around his neck, to get his attention. "You don't need to worry about it. I don't expect you to be all knowing. I like you the way you are. Neither of us want that, so what does it matter?"

"You have a fair point." Jackyn sheepishly smirked, before pulling Nye into an embrace.

In the room next door, Zyron was just shutting the door behind him. He closed his eyes, as he prepared to turn to Solitaire behind him. "Hey, can we talk?" He asked, in an almost uncertain tone. "That fight we had... and what happened in Skyworld..."

As his body had fully turned to face her, he opened his eyes, and was abruptly pulled into an unexpected kiss. Zyron was startled by the surprise, his heart racing, as the pink haired Morpheus continued to hold his face as she forced her tongue in his mouth. Zyron still seemed shaken, but eased into it just as she pulled her saliva covered lips away from his.

"What about it?" Solitaire finally replied, as she took a breath.

"I just... I was being a fucking idiot, and well... I should have went with you. I promised I'd protect you..." Zyron admitted, he seemed really anxious and concerned.

"Awe Ronnie. Come on, stop worrying about it, and give us a snog." Solitaire teased him, as she went to peck him again.

Zyron placed his hand behind Solitaire's head this time, kissing her back. He still carried an anxious demeanor, due to his concerns, but Solitaire seemed set on comforting him. As they continued to kiss passionately, Solitaire lured Zyron with her over to the bed. As they drew closer to it, she let her hand travel into his pants, before dragging him on top of her as they fell onto the bed. Zyron seemed to enjoy this, shifting himself between her legs as she pulled him closer.

A brief elapse of time passed after the love making. Solitaire was laying there with Zyron, with his arm behind her back on the bed; their sweating naked bodies rested under the messy covers, as they panted softly. Zyron glanced to Solitaire, with thoughtful eyes. "So, I've been racking my brain about this. Are we together?" He asked seeming to want to confirm if the feelings between them were valid.

"Innit obvious, you dolt?" Solitaire teased, but she paused with a change in expression. She seemed almost concerned. "Hang on. You don't think this is a bloody fling, right?"

"Shit. Of course not." Zyron sat up to look down to her with a hesitant gaze. "I want to be with you. If I have to fucking pose as your slave to do it, I'll damn well do that. I just want to know what you... think about us."

"Ronnie. You're the most important person in the world to me. I'd really be gutted and probably ball my eyes out if anything happened to tear us apart." Solitaire scooted closer, leaning her head against his arm that rested on the bed.

".... This inevitable war that's approaching... if we manage to survive it.... could you still see yourself together with me?" Zyron blushed, smiling from her words.

"As jammy as the two of us have been, I think we're partners in crime by now. As stubborn as you are, I couldn't see myself with anyone else." She admitted, reaching her hand to his cheek. "I love you."

"You have no idea how happy that makes me." Zyron smiled, as he leaned into a kiss her again. His hand trailed under the sheet, obviously shifting between her legs. This made her purr softly, allowing him to play with her.

Elsewhere, Miles was leading the others as they ventured through a tropical canyon path. Talis was walking beside Ember to get a look at the unconscious Eclipse. The elven spymaster seemed to have been bandaged up where she was wounded, her condition didn't seem to have been improved however. Beside the dragon, slithered Djinn as she carried the female dragon's only remaining egg.

"How is she fairing, Talis?" Djinn asked, unable to see the condition of the elf.

"Not so well I'm afraid." She spoke softly, before peering ahead to Miles. "You spoke of a safe place, did you not? How far off are we?" Talis inquired, concerned for her friend.

Miles glanced back as they were coming up to a cavern just a bit ahead of them. His ears were fixed backwards as he had been eavesdropping on the girls' conversation. "We still have a ways to go..." He admitted.

"I'm starting to wonder if we should have ventured to the forest of guidance instead." Talis replied, seeming uneasy.

"Talis. Please don't give up. Eclipse is strong, she can make this journey..." Djinn tried to reassure her, with a hand to the dragon's shoulder.

"We can only hope, Jinnie..." Talis closed her eyes.

Miles seemed unsure what to do, but noticed a certain female cat wasn't anywhere to be seen. "(Where did Minerva go?)" He pondered, thinking perhaps that she had left.

Then without a second notice, the silver coated feline emerged from the nearby trees. She leapt down from the upper terrain and slid down to the canyon where the others were trekking onward. Miles seemed stunned, but also relived that she had returned. He watched the majestic Amazonian feline approach his phoenix and the other ladies.

"Talis." She extended her hand to the female dragon, holding what seemed to be wild herbs in her palm. "These herbs should hold over your friend until we reach our destination."

Talis timidly reached for the green leaves, and smiled softly to Minerva. "Thank you, you are truly kind."

"You're most welcome." Minerva replied walking up to Miles. "How about we take a break so Talis can apply the herbs to her friend?"

"Considering we have cover from the Templar for the moment, it's probably for the best." Miles agreed.

"While the others rest, we can take the time to get to know each other more if you like." She winked to him, as she turned towards the others.

"I always have time for you, mi'lady. We can always slip away if you wanna do this privately." Miles smirked.

Minerva playfully grabbed his chin. "No need to be hasty now. When the dangers have passed, perhaps then you may be allowed to unsheathe thy dagger. For the moment, 'tis best we protect the others."

"You really have a way with words." Miles accepted her statement.

With that the group decided to make a temporary camp while Talis applied the healing herbs to Eclipse's wounds. With Djinn caring for her egg, she was more at ease it seemed. Miles sat on a rock close by, eating a piece of fruit he found. His eyes were continuously meeting with Minerva's who was sharpening her arrows not far from his position. There wasn't too much time to rest however. A tempest storm began brewing as rain began crashing down from the sky amongst the strong winds.

"This is bad! We have to find shelter!" Talis gasped, as she began to panic.

Djinn's blind eyes were unable to see the severity of the storm, but she was more than aware of it's dangers. "We need to hurry!" Djinn exclaimed, protecting Talis' egg from the hard rainfall.

"This way! The underground path is just ahead!" Miles gathered the others, pressing them towards the nearby cave entrance.

Urgently, Miles and his party made way for the cavern that resided within range. Barreling inside, the group took refuge from the intense storm outside. Soaked to the bone, their wary faces peered back with disdain and concern, before blindly venturing into the darkness of the unknown. Spiders were crawling along the walls and passing over their feet, as Miles tried to figure which path would lead them to the least dangerous city.

"What was that? Something strange just touched my tail..." Djinn spoke up suddenly.

"It's too dark to even for me to see..." Talis kept close to Djinn, her tone nervous.

"As much as I hate this, just leave the seeing to me." Miles spoke up, trying to get a view of their surroundings with his eyes' natural night vision.

"You're not alone in this, Miles." Minerva stated, protecting the rear of the party as they carefully continued forward.

Within a few steps, more objects began to become more visible around them. From what they could see, they seemed to be flesh-like ovals lining the floors. The slime covered texture on these egg-like anomalies seemed to keep them in place, and raised towards the overhead chasm of the underground tunnel. Veins pulsated vividly along the curved edges as they seemed to beat like a heart.

"W-what are those things?" Miles gasped quietly.

"I can't say I know, but it's best we don't alarm the others. They're anxious enough as it is." Minerva patted his back as she passed him to examine what seemed to be an canine-like body laying ahead of them.

She crouched down to it, dipping her fingers into an open wound on its neck. The sticky residue of its blood stuck between her fingers as she took notice of the condition of the corpse. It was a male lesser fiend, seeming to have been partially eaten and burned nearly down to the bone. All that seemed to remain was the flesh on its canine-like skull and some of the torso. The rest looked to be ripped to shreds.

"...I'm no expert, but I think we may have wandered into a fiend's nest. The females usually eat their mates after mating..." Minerva cringed as she got back to her feet.

"You're kidding?!" Miles gawked, his hair standing on edge.

"If what you're saying is true, then we should proceed with caution." Talis chimed in, timidly.

"Don't worry, it's nothing we can't handle-" Minerva tried to ease Talis' concern, but just as the words crossed her lips, a female canine lesser fiend leapt out before them. She was much larger than the male, towering over the party like a massive beast with two snarling faces. "I may have spoken too soon." Minerva's brave demeanor seemed to waver slightly.

"Is that a dog?!" Miles yelped, stumbling back into Minerva.

"No, that's a Cerberus! We need to retreat!" Minerva grabbed Miles' hand as she rushed with haste through the cluster of eggs at their feet.

Miles stuck his fingers in his mouth to whistle, getting Ember to rush after them. Djinn and Talis quickly followed suite in order to keep within range of Ember. The dragoness held to the Lamia who carried her egg, before ascending into the air after the large fire bird.The gigantic fiend began barreling after the party, sounding out a loud howl that caused the cavern to tremble. Small rock fragments crashed from the ceiling as Miles and the others frantically tried to escape the two headed hound. In the distance a flicker of light was seen, getting everyone's attention.

"There! We have to be close to the exit now!" Miles exclaimed.

The ground abruptly rumbled, as the Cerberus leapt into the air. It's massive paws came crashing down behind Miles and Minerva. Tumbling forward onto the ground, the two felines barely avoided being squashed, however behind them the giant monster dog smashed into one of the deep road's walls. Fear began to increase as the entire cavern around them started to quake with much larger rocks falling down around them. Quickly Minerva scooped Miles up bridal-style, hurrying after their airborne allies that were nearing the exit. Just as they reached the light that shined inward, the passage behind them had completely caved in with no way back.

Minerva still held Miles in her arms as the two of them glanced back to the destruction they left in their wake. "Talk about a close call..." Miles sighed in relief as he glanced to the woman holding him. "So. Gonna put me down, or do you plan to carry me the whole way back, mi'lady?" He teased.

"Oh, is that an option?" Minerva jested, before placing Miles down to his feet.

The two of them quickly regrouped with the others that got out ahead of them. Eclipse still seemed in bad shape as she rested on Ember's back, but everyone seemed unscathed from their recent encounter.

"Is everyone alright?" Talis asked, looking around them all. "Good, seems we all made it out in one piece... That's a relief." She held her chest.

The area around them seemed healthy in marsh vegetation, with the city of Oakwood just within range. A creak wasn't too far off from where they emerged from the cavern inside a grassy hill as well. Miles knew they were getting close to Knothole by now.

"Greetings sister. I see you all made it through the Cerberus den alive." A soft male voice spoke to them.

This startled the conscious members of the party, getting everyone to take notice of a particular Terra sitting on the hill above the cavern entrance. It was Koron's follower, the wingless dragon called Nobou. It was almost as if he had been waiting for them to arrive.

"Nobou?" Talis spoke up, her tone trembling. "I-Is that really you?" She started to cry, seeming genuinely happy to see him.

"It is." He smiled, standing up to his feet.

"Do you know this guy?" Miles asked, holding to his sword. "Is he one of the Templar?"

"No, he's not. That's Talis' half brother, he was banished from Skyworld sometime before I was locked away in that pit." Djinn explained, unsure how to feel about this reunion.

"It's nice to see you remember me as well, Djinn." Nobou turned to her, his motives laid unknown.

"Why was he banished, Talis?" Miles asked, his tone stern.

"Well... Aoba stripped him of his title as Samurai, after he went against his command. He's been marked a rōnin since then, but... I know not his reason behind the betrayal." Talis grew silent, her teary eyes focused to her brother's shrouded face.

"But, is he on our side?" Miles inquired, still uncertain.

"You misunderstand the circumstances here, albeit none of your concern." Nobou stated to Miles, before his gaze shifted to Talis. "Sister, part ways with these people. It's not safe to remain at the side of the imposter's followers."

"W-Wait a sec. You're in league with the cult of Ghestro?" Miles gawked, reaffirming his suspicion.

"You speak as if it's a bad thing. My new master gave me hope while I had none, and I'm only extending this to be beloved sister, so that I might protect her from that monster that claims to be the Maker's chosen. As a man of the sword, I will not dishonor those who I have sworn to protect." Nobou leaned his hand to the hilt of his sword, as he watched Miles' movements.

"Don't believe him, Talis. That Master he speaks of, she sent her workers to try as steal alliances from Nye, and then tried to kill us for not complying." Miles pulled to his sword, holding it before him with both hands. "The Cult of Ghestro are just as bad as Aoba."

"I...." Talis fell to her knees, staring at Nobou in shock.

"Seems we've reached an impasse. I cannot speak for my master on the situation, however I cannot just allow my sister to stay unguarded from the true enemy. Perhaps we should let our swords do the talking for us." Nobou leapt down before Miles, withdrawing both of his sword, as well as a dirk with his tail.

Nobou dove at Miles like a gust of wind, as water currents began to flow in the air around him from a nearby stream. The former samurai rushed with great speed, as the waves danced around him. Within a matter of seconds he was right up in Miles face, blasting the feline back with rapid fire strikes of his swords, followed by a blast of water magic that knocked him back into a tree with great force. Miles was taken by surprise with this, trying to regain his nerve and footing. Squinting his eyes, he could just barely make out Djinn trying to get through to the panicked Talis, with Ember keeping close with Eclipse.

Minerva however had joined the battle, targeting Nobou with her bow. Arrows shot the dragon's way, some getting stuck in his shoulder pad and tail scales. He didn't seem to waver, turning his attention to the she-cat. Water spiraled around, shooting at her like little missile blasts, followed by a swift uppercut of his blade. Minerva steadily dodged the water shots, before deflecting the uppercut with the solid edge of her bow. She proceeded to leg sweep him, but she wasn't expecting his tail to bash right into her side, and throw her across the marsh. She tumbled briefly, getting a few scrapes from the sudden collision, as well as mud from the swamp water.

Miles quickly rushed to Minerva's side, to counter an incoming sword strike. "Sorry to cut in mi'lady." he said, holding back Nobou's blade.

"Don't mention it." Minerva got to her feet, to pull to her bow.

With the close range aim, Nobou quickly cast the remainder of his water magic flying at them, letting the front ends crash into each other. Using this opportunity, Nobou got a distance away from them, leaving the two feline soaked to the bone in water.

"Great... Just when I thought I was dry..." Miles complained, trying to shake it off his arms.

Sitting up, they noticed him circling back around. Minerva took her eyes off him briefly to turn to Miles. "If we ambush him like that again, we might be able to knock him down. Do as I do."

"Ladies first." Miles nodded.

Just as Nobou came rushing their way, the two felines split up, diving in opposite directions to dodge the incoming slashes of his katanas. Minerva leapt into the air, pulling back her bowstring to fire more arrows Nobou's way. In response, Nobou stumbled backward, before lashing his tail to knock back the incoming arrows. The dagger held in his tail was sent soaring in Minerva's path, but the raining arrows didn't falter. A few split, getting stuck in his tail, while others were bluntly shattered. Some blood dripped from the deep penetration of the arrow tips. The flying dagger's path was still locked onto Minerva, making Miles' heart stop for a solid second, however, the blade had just barely missed her ear as it cut through a few strands of loose hair on her head.

Miles seemed relieved that the dagger missed, but his attention quickly shifted to Nobou. The Terra seemed distracted from the surging pain, allowing Miles an opening to strike. The male Lugooz rushed over on hands and feet with the sword in his mouth. Nobou finally realized the preemptive strike coming, and swung around to slash his Katanas. Miles quickly got to his feet, using the kodachi Nye had given him to deflected the strike. The swords collided, being shoved against one another, and the sparks were flying from the force of it. Observing the battle, Djinn turned back to try to snap Talis out of this daze. Even Ember nestled down to look to the panicked female Terra.

Miles and Nobou continued to stand off with their swords, but neither seemed ready to back down. The Terra had blood trailing down from his shoulder, where the arrow had pierced through his armor, and his hands were trembling. Even though his eyes were shielded by his hair, Miles could feel the overwhelming determination resonating within Nobou. The Katanas pulled away for a moment, before Nobou bashed them forward into Miles kodachi. The blade was knocked from his grasp, reopening the wounds on his missing digits. Miles fell backwards, grasping to his bleeding hand with the Terra reeling his blades back for another strike.

Miles had the look of horror in his eyes, this was it, he thought. Just as the swords came Miles' way, Minerva jumped in the line of fire. She quickly used her bow to hold back the Katanas and thrusted the bottom of her boot into Nobou's stomach, before disarming him with her bow. Miles was genuinely surprised by this, watching from his frozen position as Minerva picked up one of Nobou's Katanas and held the blade of it to his bare chest. She had a fierce gaze focused on him, as Nobou cough up a bit of blood.

Nobou reached his trembling hand to the sharp blade pressed to his chest. Instant cuts came to his finger tips, trailing blood along the blade he grasped to. "W...What... are you... Waiting for?" Nobou asked, the staggered breaths audible behind the gurgling blood that clung to his lips.

"N-Nobou...." Talis whimpered, shielding her eyes as she hide her face in Djinn's nearby chest. This feeling Talis held made Minerva hesitate, but her gaze peered back to Miles' bleeding hand.

Dark particles began floating around Minerva's position, feeling the sword force itself away from Nobou's chest. "You may want to reconsider what you're doing." A threatening tone came from the black smog forming around like miasma.

The she-cat seemed unnerved as she was flung back into Miles. Spiked boots abruptly emerged from the dark atmosphere, facing towards Nobou as the figure crouched to the dragon's level. A clawed black hand reached out, cupping Nobou's face, as menacing eyes panned backwards to gaze upon the startled felines. Will-o-wisps began to cluster around him as the phasing particles trailed off into the open air. Standing between them and ending this battle with the cult's dragon, was Tyr.