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LINKS - Chapter 15 - Chess

Azee's stomach rumbled and grumbled as she sat crossed legged in front of a small, smouldering fire. The fire was set in an iron ring that had once been a wagon wheel in the centre of one of the platforms near the top of the tower.

Before her, rotating slowly over the red-hot coals, was the sizzling carcass of a large deer.

Azee's eyes were wide, her hands pressed hard against the rock as her tail thrashing about behind her. The smell coming from the cooking meat made Azee tingle from head to toe, it was one of the most delicious scents she had ever experienced. It also had the effect of stirring something deep inside of her, something buried and forgotten.

Across from her, Rayes sat next to T'varo, both now wearing long robes that spread out behind them. Raye's shoulder brushed against T'varo's, a small, yet utterly satisfied smile on his face as he held his mate's hand. Xia was also sat nearby, his sharp eyes observing the cooking meal as he methodically pulled a small length of yellow and red cloth into thin strips.

T'varo carefully stuck a long sharp stick into the carcass and examined the juices for a moment before placing the stick at his side. "Almost done, just be a few more minutes while we wait for your companions."

Despite her almost overwhelming urge to simply pounce upon the meat and begin tearing at it with her teeth, Azee nodded.

Eager to take her mind off of the mouth-watering feast mere inches from her, Azee looked around. "Where's Sinda?"

"Probably went to go and find Chess," T'varo chuckled, stroking Rayes' hair. "He hates to be away from her, even for a short time."

"So... why did he go with Rayes?"

"I asked him to. I don't like to leave this place, and I am not going to let Rayes go on his own." T'varo unconsciously glanced down at Rayes' metallic leg.

"Despite the fact I could easily manage it," Rayes replied, raising an eyebrow, though there was the smallest hint of a smile playing on his lips.

"Mmmmm, yes love, despite the fact that you could manage it." T'varo stroked Rayes' cheek gently. "But, while I have nothing but the highest regard for your talents, I truly have no idea what I would do if you were to be lost."

Azee tilted her head slightly. Despite Rayes's words and emotionless tone,, she could sense the feeling between the two men. There was a warmth to Rayes, a life in his eyes that she hadn't seen before.

"I see." Azee glanced back at T'varo and Rayes. "So you never leave this tower?"

"Never is such a... strong term. I prefer to see it that... the outside has very little that interests me, and that the danger outweighs the potential rewards." T'varo unconsciously scratched his neck. "Still, I do try to get out from time to time, there are a few catalyst stone deposits in this area, and I use them for my work."

So... are you two both... with Chess as well?"

"Indeed." T'varo nodded. "I am mates with both Chess and Rayes."

"Not with Sinda?"

"We are mates, but it is very different between us, we have no real desire for each other's bodies but our souls are connected just as tightly and surely as with the others."

Azee shook her head. "It all seems so.... confusing."

"It's really simple." Rayes cleared his throat. "All of us, T'varo, Sinda, Chess and myself, are mates, though what that means is unique between each of us."

"So... do you...' Azee's face turned a little red. "Do you two both... sleep with Chess?"

"I do from time to time, if the mood strikes either of us," T'varo replied with a casual shrug. "Both male and female forms are deeply intriguing to me. My people tend to avoid such subjects, we tend to be.... Mmmmmm.... Prudish. But I have decided to sample all that life has to offer, and that includes both men and women, human, Shiyan, and Drathain. But frankly, I much prefer to have this man-" he gently stroked Rayes's cheek, "-share my bed."

"As for me, Chess and I have a relationship that goes beyond mere physicality." Rayes spoke up, anticipating Azee's next question. "We connect in a different way, one which ties us together in love and loyalty. I have no interest in having sex with her, nor her with me."

"And... Sinda?"

"Sinda is not interested in us in a sexual way, and vice versa. Make no mistake, we love him as much as we love each other and Chess, that love just takes a different form. I personally would welcome a chance to be physical with him, but thus far he has only shown interest in mating with Chess." T'varo poked the deer carcass again. "Who knows, perhaps he is doing that as we speak."

"He's not joking," Rayes shrugged as Azee nervously laughed. "The two of them are on top of one another more often than one might think possible."

"Not all that surprising considering how proficient Sinda is in that particular regard." T'varo chuckled to himself as he leaned back against the stack of cushions behind him. "The noises Chess makes when she is with Sinda are really quite entertaining."

"I... I see..." Azee's face turned bright red as she stared intently into the fire.

As Azee watched the hypnotic dance of light blue that fluttered across the coals, T'varo placed his hand upon Raye's and gently squeezed. As he did, he ever so slightly tensed the muscles of his fingers in rapid succession, speaking in code as he observed the embarrassed Shiyan sitting across from him.

'Did I miss something?' T'varo asked, tilting his head only slightly towards Rayes.

Rayes recognized the code that he had taught T'varo just after they had met. In the early days of their relationship, after Rayes had been freed from the grip of his Seraphim training, it had been far easier for him to talk about his experiences through code, rather than spoken word.

'Sinda, playing his usual games.' he replied, his fingers subtly twitching.

'Ancestor's bones, is he trying to woo this one as well?'

'You know what he is like. He tells me that she is rather attractive.' Rayes cocked an eyebrow ever so slightly. 'Is she?'

'You're asking me?'

'Still a better judge than I.'

'Well It's not like I have a great deal of experience in such matters but, very well.' T'varo took a moment to examine Azee, his gaze unnoticed as Azee once more found her attention fixated on the deer carcass. 'She's... plain, but not unattractive. Then again Sinda has always had a thing for canines.'

'Should we warn her?'

'Of what? Sinda is harmless.'

'I'm more worried about the woman she's travelling with.'

"Mmmm..." T'varo stroked his antlers with his free hand. "She is a strange one..."

Azee's ears perked up. "Huh?"

"Forgive me, just thinking out loud." T'varo picked up the sharpened stick and spun it around in his fingers. "So, what do you think of Sinda?"

"Oh? He's nice. Very friendly." Azee's face turned pink as her tail started to wag.

"He would be glad to hear that. Rayes tells me he intends on sleeping with you."

Azee's tail stuck straight out as her face turned red and her claws dug into the rock. "Wh-what?"

Immediately Rayes looked up at T'varo. "Love, perhaps-"

"Do you intend to bed him?" T'varo tilted his head. "If you do, could you describe to me what it is like? For research purposes only I assure you. Perhaps, if it is alright, I could make some sketches..."

"Forgive him." Rayes interjected as Azee looked about ready to bolt. "He is ... unaccustomed to humour. It's something he is... trying out."

"O-oh... s-so he was... joking?"

"Well I-" T'varo paused as Rayes glanced up at him.

"Yes..." he said at last, picking each word slowly. "I... was... joking."

No one, least of all Azee, was fooled

Just as Azee was fairly certain she was going to melt into a puddle of pure embarrassment, Sinda's voice called out just behind her.

"Wow, that is a good looking piece of meat right there!"

Sinda licked his lips as he drew up by the fire and sat down beside Azee, smiling at her, a little bit of drool coming out the sides of his muzzle. "By the tyrant's saggy teets I've been waiting for this all day."

In an instant Azee's mind flashed back, Luke looking down at her, a gentle yet lustful smile on his lips. He leaned towards, stroking her cheek tenderly.

'I've been looking forward to this all day.'

"W-what the hell is wr-wrong with you!" Azee sputtered, her face a brilliant crimson.

"Uh... pardon?"

"You... how could... you... I'm not just a-" A loud hiss erupted as a small jet of liquid fat from the roasting deer carcass struck the coals. In that instant, a horrible realisation dawned upon Azee.

'He was talking... about the deer...'

The colour drained out of Azee's face as Sinda stared at her in utter confusion. "No..." She moaned softly, ears flat against her head. "No, no no no no..."

"Azee? What are you-"

Before Sinda could finish, Azee leapt to her feet and rushed off at full speed. With a loud squeak, Xia also took to the air and followed behind Azee, taking a swipe at Sinda's ears with his talons as he went.

"Hey!" Sinda ducked out of the way as Xia sailed over his head. Sinda looked around, first at Rayes and then at T'varo. "What was that?!"

"That was... a misunderstanding." Rayes looked up at T'varo, a slight frown on his face.

"But you said..." T'varo paused. "Oh... is this a human thing? Or a Shiyan thing, as the case may be?"

"It may indeed be, yes."

"What is going on here?" Sinda demanded, climbing back to his feet. "What did you do? What did you say to Azee?"

"I merely observed that you wished to mate with her." T'varo looked from Sinda to Rayes. "That is the case, is it not?"

"Wha-how... Why would you say that to her!?"

"I thought perhaps I might have a chance to observe Shiyan mating behaviour; since Chess won't let me watch the two of you engaging in intercourse anymore, not after the last time when I brought my sketchbook."

Sinda's mouth dropped open.

"I think it may be prudent for you to get outside more often." Rayes observed, patting T'varo's hand.

"And that's the ex-seraphim telling you that!" Sinda exploded. "Why would you... how... I can't even... ARGH!"

Snarling to himself in a handful of different languages, Sinda marched away from the fire. Moments later he returned, picked up a knife and paused to carve a large chunk of meat off the carcasses' flank before storming off again.

"Do you think he was angry at me? Or angry that he might not get to sleep with the canine?" T'varo asked, glancing down at Rayes.

"You know... it might just be both."

"Mmmmm..."

Rayes raised an eyebrow. "Why do you do this?"

"Do what?"

"You and I both know that you grasped human and Shiyan social patterns years ago, yet you persist in playing these sorts of games. I am curious as to why."

"Mmmm... information. People tend to be more truthful when they are off balance, both in word and in action. They... mmmm.... tend to say what they mean, far more so than if they were in pain, or were afraid."

Rayes pondered this for a few moments as he reached out and carved both himself and T'varo a piece of deer meat. "But people lie when they are embarrassed."

"Lies are a much faster path to the truth."

Chuckling to himself, Rayes popped a morsel of meat into T'varo's mouth. "You know, you wouldn't have made such a bad Seraphim."

"Mmmmm, never did much care for the colour red." T'varo kissed Raye's cheek as he ruffled the long, curly hair beneath his red beret. "Though it does bring out your eyes in a most interesting way."

As Rayes and T'varo snuggled, Luke made his way up to the plateau where they were cooking.

"Ah, Windhill will you be-" Rayes paused as he noticed Luke's hair was in disarray, his shirt only half buttoned, and a half full bottle in his hand.

"Not hungry," Luke mumbled. "Where's Azee... I need... I need to talk to her."

"She and Sinda went down to the lower levels." Rayes gestured at the other side of the fire. "Why don't you sit and join us? We can talk for a while."

"Sinda... he's the one... who doesn't like t'be called... pelt, right?"

Rayes's cheek twitched slightly, "I'm fairly certain none of them like to be called 'pelt'."

"Yeah, yeah, well..." Luke stared into the fire, his vision swimming in front of him. "We don't always get what we want, do we?"

"Oh dear..." T'varo tapped his fingers against his antlers. "I told you to only take a few sips of that for your throat... Mmmm, Please tell me you haven't drunk all of that..."

"I'm a Windhill," Luke slurred, staggering away from the fire and starting up towards a stairway that led to the roof of the tower. "We... we drink whisky during business meetings... it's... it's... traditional. I've... b'n drinking since... since I was... I can't even remember... If I can make a deal for forty thousand larics af'er a bottle of my father's whisky... I can handle this... wine stuff."

"O-okay... but it's brewed from-"

"An' another thing!" Luke spun around, raising a finger at both Rayes and T'varo. "My father... my father... my father was a bastard, he was mean, he hit my mom, my sisters, me, the slaves, he hit everyone excpet my brother... who was perfect. But! But he was NOT a fool. An' he was NOT some clown that Azee can just... just... turn into some... joke."

"Very well Windhill." Rayes slowly stood and approached Luke. "Now, why don't you go for a walk, get some fresh air."

The bottle squealed slightly as Luke's grip tightened. "I hated him... but he doesn't have to be a good man... to deserve my loyalty. He's my family... just... just like I thought Azee was..." He sniffed, staring down at the bottle.

"Ungrateful... p-pelt."

Rayes' arm flashed out and snatched the bottle from Luke's hand.

"Go," Rayes commanded. "Go, and have a good long think."

"But... but I don't."

"Go!"

Drunk as Luke was, there was a power in Rayes's voice that dug deep into his mind. With a defeated grunt he turned and began stumbling towards the ramp that led up to the top of the stepping stone.

After watching to make certain that Luke was leaving, Rayes returned to T'varo's side.

"Should we.... let him go on his own?" T'varo asked, glancing sideways at Rayes.

"Leave him be, he's not our concern."

"And if he gets hurt?"

"Would that really be such a loss?"

T'varo was quiet for a time, before shifting to sit a little further away from Rayes.

"Hey," Rayes looked sharply over at T'varo. "What are you doing?"

"I don't like it when the Seraphim side of you comes out."

"Seraphim, what are you-"

"That man is arrogant, privileged, foolish and perhaps even an utter vathedka, but he is also in a great deal of pain. You know that, and yet you, of all people, decide that he is, what, unworthy of pity? That he should be cast aside like trash?"

Rayes looked down at the ground as T'varo continued. "Need I remind you what you yourself used to be, what you did in order to survive? How long did it take for you to untangle the knot you had inside of you? Hmmm? How many people would have left you in that river and just let you bleed to death?"

"I, at least, was willing. I had doubts. That man-"

"Just drank half a bottle of spittlejuice," T'varo interrupted. "No one who is... content would do that."

"You did... tell him what it was, right?"

There was a slight pause as T'varo tapped his antlers."That's not the point," he answered at last.

"Love... he's a slaver."

"And you're a trained killer. Not that it matters."

"Doesn't it?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because he's in pain."

A flicker of frustration entered Rayes' voice. "And I don't see why I should care."

"Because pain exists to be healed. Because no one deserves to suffer when they can be healed. And because I made that EXACT same argument to Chess when she asked me to save you, and it very nearly cost you your life and me the greatest love I've ever had!"

T'varo's words echoed up and down the tower.

"But he is still a slaver." Rayes retorted, surprised at the anger in T'varo's voice.

"Healing doesn't mean forgiving. Forgiveness is something that can only be offered by those hurt. And it isn't like forgiveness suddenly undoes the damage and hurt, and I am certain that Windhill has caused his fair share botht."

T'varo crossed his arms, the fur on his head rippling as he glared into the fire, shame echoing in his voice as he spoke. "It is simply that it is not our decision. Our choice is whether to let him hurt, or help him. Those choices are about us, not him or what he's done."

Shifting to look T'varo in the eye, Rayes raised a hand towards him. "You're right... I'm... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you"

T'varo reached out and took Rayes' hand, his eyes sliding mostly closed as his shoulders slumped. "My refusal to help cost you your leg... and nearly cost me you completely."

Rayes couldn't help but glance at his metallic leg. "Love... you know I don't blame you. I was a monster... and maybe I still am in a way."

"That's not what I meant. I just... I can't stand to see anyone make my same mistake."

"I know, I know" Rayes lowered his hand and looked down at the ground. "Should we... go after him them?"

"No."

Rayes looked up again. "Why?"

T'varo nodded in the direction Luke had gone. As Rayes turned he caught a fleeting glimpse of white fur vanishing up the stairs towards the top of the tower.

"He's outside of our help anyways." T'varo shifted so he was sitting beside Rayes again, draping a long arm across the man's shoulders. "Chess will know what to say."

"She may not be able to help him, but at least she will help him find one end of the knot."

"True."

Rayes nodded and put his own arm around T'varo. "I still don't like him."

T'varo sighed, gently scratching Raye's head. "Can't say I blame you. How about this, once Chess is done with him, you can tell him how spittlejuice is made, deal? I imagine the look upon his face will be rather entertaining."

"It certainly was when I first found out." Rayes smiled again. "Deal."

***

By the time Azee made it back to her room, which was a tent constructed on one of the mid level plateaus, the only thing in the world she truly truly wanted was the ability to burrow into the rock and vanish.

'What am I so embarrassed about?' she demanded to herself, tail flicking back and forth in frustration. 'It's not like Sinda made his intentions a secret...'

With a moan she reached up and grabbed her ears, shaking her head. 'What am I even thinking?! He's already got a mate, by the Tyrant, he's got three! But that's human thinking... And Luke...'

Azee growled as she dropped onto the pile of blankets and cushions that was to be her bed. 'What about Luke? Who cares about that... that jerk anyways! Not me! Not anymore!'

Pulling a pillow over her head she moaned again. 'Wow, I wonder if that was as unconvincing as it sounded in my head.'

For a few minutes she lay still, pillow pulled over her head, listening to the sound of her own heartbeat. No matter how hard she tried she couldn't silence the flood of thoughts running through her head. Eventually she rolled over and lay on her back, staring up at the canvas roof of her tent.

With a heavy sigh she squeezed the bridge of her snout. 'Get a hold of yourself, Luke took Chara away from me, sold her like.... like all the others.'

'So why do I still care?'

"Azee?"

At the sound of Sinda's voice, Azee sat bolt upright. Sinda stood at the entrance of her tent, a large piece of steaming meat in his hands wrapped in a square of cloth.

"I thought you might be hungry."

Azee's tail started to wag as the smell of roasted meat filled her nose. "That... really does smell good..."

"May I come in?"

Azee felt her ears begin to burn as she licked her lips. "I... I uh..."

"Look, I'm not really sure what T'varo said, though I am fairly certain I have a pretty good idea." Sinda extended the meat towards Azee. "So, if you want, I'll just leave this here and go."

Swallowing hard, Azee nodded slowly. "O-okay. Y-yeah, that sounds good."

With a gentle smile, Sinda stepped into Azee's tent and set the meat down beside her. Azee looked up at Sinda, uncertain of what to say or do, her tail gently swaying back and forth.

"Well," Sinda got back to his feet and nodded. "I'll let you eat then."

Sinda turned to leave, but as he reached the entrance he paused. "Hey, I was wondering if perhaps you-" As Sinda turned, he caught sight of Azee, the whole piece of deer in her mouth, her tail wagging excitedly back and forth.

Azee froze as she noticed Sinda looking at her.

"You never had deer before either?" Sinda chuckled.

"Um... n-not like this." Azee swallowed a mouthful still blushing. "S-somteimes if the overseers managed to shoot a deer or a boar they'd put they bits they didn't want in the stew... unless of course they were really hungry, or they didn't think the slaves worked hard enough that day."

"But... you lived with Windhill didn't you? He didn't.... let you eat what he ate?"

"He would... well after his father died he would, but this is better anyways." Azee shrugged a little. "Human food always has too many spices in it. Even after three years, I never got used to it. Plus I... well..."

Sinda tilted his head. "What?"

"My sister... she refused to eat anyhting other than what the other slaves ate... Every time I ate the same food as Luke she...would get this look in her eye, like she was ashamed of me."

"I'm sure she was just worried about you."

"Maybe... Or maybe she was right all along."

"About the Windhill?"

Azee nodded. "She always said Luke was evil, that he would turn on me... that he would turn on us. I didn't believe her... and now she is gone, sold to someone that... that even Luke doesn't know."

"I'm sorry I..." Sinda sighed heavily as he crossed his arms. "I didn't know it was that bad."

"He wants me to forgive him, to just... understand why he did what he did."

"So why did he do it?"

"D-do what?"

"Sell your sister? I mean, the way he looks at you, he cares, so why would he do something so horrid to you? I mean... it doesn't make a lot of sense..."

Sinda fell silent as Azee's ears drooped, her excitement extinguished.

"I don't know." Azee mumbled curling up into a ball and burying her face in her knees.

"You... haven't asked him?"

Azee shivered a little, wrapping her tail around herself.

"Why haven't you asked him?"

"I'm scared." Azee whimpered.

"Scared? What are you scared of?"

"I don't know... that he'll say something that... that makes sense... or worse..." Azee whined softly. "Worse... what if he just didn't care? What if... what if he wanted to hurt me.. Or her? Some kind of control?"

"That doesn't sound right, that-"

"But I don't know!" Azee snapped. Immediately she curled back up, tears in her eyes. "And I'm so scared..."

Silently cursing his big mouth, Sinda gently padded over and sat down next to Azee, reaching out a hand and scratching her between the ears. "I can understand that, it's okay."

As Sinda stroked her, another thought flashed across Azee's mind, a simple question: 'what would I do to him...if I did know...' The sound of Luke's gun going off, the scent of blood and sulphur, filled her as she squeezed her eyes shut.

"Hey... I have an idea." Sinda climbed to his feet and extended a hand to Azee. "I think I might be able to show you something that will cheer you up."

"I... I don't know."

"Come on, you'll love it, I promise."

"Wh-what is it?"

"You'll see, but I don't want to ruin the surprise."

"It... isn't your bedroom is it?"

Sinda's eyes widened, "Wh- no! No, no, thinking like-" He paused. "Wait... was that a joke?"

Azee sniffed a little as she uncruled herself. "It... might have been."

Sinda grinned as his tail started to wag. "Well, no, it isn't my bedroom, something way better."

***

Despite his intoxication, Luke could easily feel the cool night air upon his skin as he reached the top of the tower and climbed out onto the flat top of the stepping stone. He raised his hand to take another drink, before remembering that Rayes had stolen his bottle from him. He thought about heading back down to retrieve it, but decided it was too much effort.

With a heavy sigh he walked across the smooth stone towards the edge. The sun had long since set, leaving only a slight orange glow on the western horizon. The stars had emerged, filling the sky with a flurry of colour and light.

The endless yawning eternity above him made Luke's skin crawl, but he couldn't take his eyes off of it. He was certain he could feel hundreds of eyes, staring down at him, watching him.

"You wanna judge me as well?" he slurred angrily, aiming a finger up at the sky. "You don't know! You don't know a damn thing about me... no one does. Not you, not the witch, not my mother, my sisters, not even Azee."

He paused as he reached the edge of the stepping stone. A few flakes of dirt and rock spiralled into the abyss as he stood upon the very edge, staring down into the darkness below.

"Azee..." Luke's hand drifted down and rested upon his gun. Slowly he unclipped the safety belt and drew the weapon.

"They all... they think Imma fool." He growled, staring down at the gleaming metal pistol. "It's like they think... think I can't understand what you want..."

"Well I get it, alright!" He roared, calling out across the barren, pitch black landscape. "I get that you want more! I just..." his voice began to trail off, "I... I can't...You think I wanted to put a collar around your neck? You think that makes me happy? Do you think I wanted to hurt you? I... All I want is for you to be happy... Happy, that's all... just happy... for you to be happy with me."

Luke took a step back from the edge, before dropping to his knees, his pistol clattering from his hand. "It's not my fault... I wanted to give you everything.... but it's not my fault... It's just... it's just..."

Slowly, Luke's hands started to curl into fists, his eyes narrowing as he glared out into the darkness. "Chara... that bitch, it's her fault... everything! That... bloody ungrateful pelt! And Hawk... I wish I'd killed that bastard with my own hands. And Comb, and my mother, and father, and Kenneth, and Alice! But most of all..." Luke's hand shook as he picked up his pistol, his thumb triggering the spark rune. "I hate this fucking place! I hate this fucking country!"

"You hear me!" Luke bellowed, shakily climbing back to his feet. As he tried to stand one of his feet hit a patch of loose stone and he slid, coming within an inch of falling off the tower. Luke panted desperately as he scrambled back from the edge in fear, before aiming his pistol out into the darkness.

"I hate you!" he bellowed, shaking from head to toe, his grip wavering wildly as tears streamed down his cheeks. With a howl of rage he pulled the trigger, sending a shot spiralling off into the darkness.

"I hate Halcyon!" he shrieked, punctuating each sentence with a shot. "I hate the Order! I hate the Lord! I hate the canon! I hate every single brainless, mindless dunce who lives in this rotten place! And most of all, I hate the fucking witch!"

Again and again he fired, his bullets going in all directions as his aim shook. One of the bullets struck the ground between his feet, sending a chunk of rock spiralling over the edge.

Luke froze, despite the alcohol induced haze, his duelling instincts telling him he had one round remaining. He was breathing hard, like a runner in a race, his ears rang and his wrist ached terribly. Wide eyed he stared down at his pistol as a new idea formed in his mind, growing out of control like a weed.

"Never... never someone's tool... never again..."

Luke moaned, closing his eyes as tears ran down his cheeks. "The witch has taken Azee.... My Azee... She's gone... she took her from me..."

Shakily, as if his arm were being moved by some outside force, Luke brought the barrel up to his own temple.

"No... no I... I did that... I took Azee away from me." His breath came in gasps as his finger curled around the trigger. "A-at least... with... with this...Azee... She can run... she can go, be free... free of Chara... free of me..."

Luke gritted his teeth, his eyes squeezed shut as he pressed the hot barrel against his head. But no matter how hard he tried, Luke couldn't pull the trigger.

After what felt like a tortured eternity, Luke slowly opened his eyes. "I... I can't... I... DAMNIT!"

With another howl, Luke pulled back his arm and threw his pistol as hard as he could. With a subtle glint, the weapon vanished into the darkness, clattering audibly to the ground far below. Luke panted hard as he let his arm drop to his side.

"Dying isn't really what you want, is it Luke?"

Luke spun round, though his brain seemed to keep moving even as his eyes had stopped. Before him was an enormously tall figure who seemed to glow with white light in the darkness.

"Who... who in damnation..." Luke tried again to stand, but his legs refused and he instead ended up kneeling.

The figure stepped forward, the blur around her fading as she drew closer. She was a Shiyan, one of the largest Luke had ever seen. She was feline, her fur an elegant creamy white, with sandy tan coloured stripes running along her powerful limbs. A head of pale silver hair ran down the woman's back, almost to the base of her elegant tail, which sported a wispy silver tuft at the end. A long length of multicoloured cloth was wrapped around her waist, festooned with dozens upon dozens of trinkets and tools that jingled merrily with each step.

What drew Luke's attention was the huge scar at the woman's throat, clearly the mark of a blade. She also wore pair of slave manacles around her wrists and ankles, though long strands of multicoloured string rather than chain hung from their solid iron loops. A scar ran from her lip and up the left side of her muzzle, through which Luke could see a glimpse of her massive, white teeth.

Luke reached down to his belt, searching for his gun. After a few moments he remembered he had tossed it over the cliff. With a muttered curse he tried to reach for his sword, but the haze of alcohol rendered him unable to remember which side of his belt he had hung it from.

By the time Luke had finally managed to put his hand on the hilt of his sword, the shiyan woman was kneeling directly in front of him, her face an inch away from his. The woman stared at Luke with open curiosity, examining him as she reached out a massive hand, effortlessly preventing Luke from drawing his sword.

"Hush child, hush, there is no need for that." Her grey eyes seemed to bore directly through Luke's, touching his very essence.

"A-are you-"

"My name is Chess, and this is my home. And you are Luke Windhill, I am very pleased to meet you."

"Y-you are?"

"Indeed. But if we are going to speak, we should speak equally."

"What... what do you mean?"

"I'll show you." Chess reached to her belt and withdrew a small bottle, filled with crushed leaves. Gently, she poured some of the powder into her palm.

Luke blinked blearily as he stared down at the powder. "Wh-what is that?"

Instead of answering, Chess blew the powder into his face.

An intense burning sensation filled Luke's mouth and nose. Immediately he began to hack and cough, his eyes streaming with agonised tears. As he tried to wave the powder away from his mouth and nose, Luke noted that his limbs felt like they were growing heavier by the moment.

"Wh-wha did..." Luke's head began to spin, the rock heaving up and down beneath him.

"It's alright." Chess reached out and pulled Luke into her lap, gently stroking his head. "There we go, everything will be alright."

Despite his burning mouth and nose, and the wild spinning in his head, as Chess held him in her immense arms, Luke felt a powerful sense of peace. She was strong, gentle, and for the first time in what felt like a long time, Luke felt no malice, no sense of dislike or hatred.

"Wh-what's ha-happening to me..." He managed, instinctually snuggling against Chess' chest.

"It's alright," Chess purred, her voice rumbling deep in her chest as she gently rocked Luke back and forth like a child. "We'll talk, just as soon as you wake up."

Darkness came, and though some parts of his mind were screaming at him, Luke was filled with a sense of peace and comfort he hadn't felt since he was a child. Without resistance, he slipped into a deep, dreamless sleep.

***

There was a sharp tang in the air that made Azee's nose sting as she followed Sinda down a narrow tunnel leading deep into the rock. The rocks all around her glistened into the light of the glow rune that Sinda held in his hand as he led the way.

"Are we almost there?" Azee asked, glancing around at the narrow cavern walls.

"Almost. Just watch your head." Sinda ducked down, avoiding a small outcropping of rock at eye level.

Despite the warmth in the air, Azee felt a chill run up her spine. The narrow walls were altogether too much like a cage, or even the punishment hole back at the ranch.

"Just a bit further." Sinda called over his shoulder. "Trust me, you're going to love it."

Azee was unconvinced.

After squeezing through a particularly tight gap in the passage, Azee's eyes widened as found herself suddenly standing in a great, craggy cavern. Bands of colour ran across the rock, which seemed almost more like flesh than stone, covered in moisture and with seemingly random bumps and rolls. The ceiling was covered in thousands of stalactites, some no larger than Azee's little finger, others thicker than tree trunks. Each of the rocky growths looked like towers of the most intricate cathedrals. The air in the cavern was thick with steam, rising off of a collection of pools, filled with milky green water. A single glow rune, embedded in the ceiling, filled the space with a pale blue glow.

With a loud whoop, Sinda ran forward, leapt into the air, and dove into one of the pools. A huge gout of steam erupted from water as he plunged beneath the surface.

Moments later, Sinda popped back up to the surface and grinned, steam rising from his fur. "Ah... that feels wonderful..." He looked to Azee. "Come on in, the water is great."

Sinda paused as he noted the look on Azee's face as she stood at the entrance to the cavern. Her ears were flat against her head and tail curled between her legs. She stared at the water, trembling, as if she were beholding some great and terrible creature.

"What's wrong?" Sinda paddled over to the edge of the pool. "It's perfectly safe, these pools aren't hot enough to hurt you."

Azee's breath shuddered a little as she forced a smile. "It's... it's nothing... I just..." She gulped a little as one of the pools bubbled a little bit more vigorously for a few moments.

"Afraid of water?"

"I..." Azee took a deep breath and nodded. "Yeah... I... I don't really like water that much."

"What happened?"

"I... I don't really remember."

"Don't remember? What, were you little?"

"No, I was... I... I don't know."

Sinda pulled himself out of the water and stepped forwards towards Azee. "Do you... remember anything?"

"I can remember that I used to love swimming, I used to swim with Luke in the river all the time! But... but then one day... this fear rose up inside me. I keep trying to remember if something happened... but... it's just blank." She gulped hard. "Now I can't even look at deep water without...It feels like... I can't breathe."

"Wow... you know you really are a tangled mess."

Azee looked up sharply and Sinda shrugged. "Hey, I'm the same way."

"Y-you are?"

"Sure. I'm terrified of the colour gold."

"G-gold?"

Sinda nodded. "Yep. Xia came home one day with this big ol' necklace made of these ugly gold chain links and hung it from one of the bridges. I tried to throw it away, but he was so proud if it, wouldn't let me near it. I couldn't eat, couldn't sleep, just having it there was maddening. So I waited until Xia went out hunting, and I chucked it in one of the really deep pools outside. I swear he knew I did it, cause for a week after that he kept hitting me in the head with his wings when he'd fly past."

"So... why were you afraid of gold?"

"I uh... just, don't worry about that. Look, how about this..."

Sinda's voice was soft and comforting as he reached out and placed a hand on Azee's arm. "We don't need to go into one of the deep ones. I'll stay with you the whole time. The water won't even come up to your waist, I promise."

Azee shivered as she stared wide eyed at the bubbling water. Every muscle in her body screamed at her to turn and flee, but Sinda's touch felt safe and strong.

With a shuddering breath, Azee nodded. "Okay."

"Alright." Sinda gently guided Azee towards one of the pools. "That's it, one foot in front of the other."

Each step Azee took felt as if she were moving through the thickest mud. Every second felt like an eternity, every brush against her fur the first hint of some arm reaching out of the depths to grab her. But she refused to stop, and soon stood at the edge of the pool.

Lowering himself into the water, Sinda reached out for Azee. "Alright, just another few steps"

Azee's entire body shuddered violently as she stared at the water. Every ripple threatened to become a tidal wave that would pull her under, every bubble the harbinger of something terrible and deadly.

"I can't," she whimpered.

"It's alright." Sinda's voice remained calm as he spread his arms. "Just lean forward and let go. I'll catch you."

"B-but-"

"You're stronger than this fear inside you."

"I'm not!"

"Yes you are. You know you are."

Fighting back tears, her every instinct screaming at her to run, Azee planted her feet. With a deep breath, she spread her arms, closed her eyes, and leaned forwards.

So powerful was the roaring of her heartbeat and the flood of terror in her mind that Azee didn't know when she went from leaning to falling. In the darkness of her mind, a pair of massive jaws opened up beneath her, razor sharp teeth glinting behind her eyelids. Then, all of a sudden, something grabbed hold of her.

Azee let out a terrified howl as she began to struggle, thrashing with arms and legs, her eyes still squeezed shut.

Barely dodging Azee's sweeping claws, Sinda held her tighter in his arms. "Azee! Azee it's okay! It's okay! Shhhh! Shhhhhhhhh, it's okay!"

Azee's eyes flew open as Sinda held her tight and stroked her hair.

"There we go, shhhhh, it's okay." Sinda's voice was soft and gentle as he held Azee against him, pressing her head against his chest. "You're here, you're safe. I've got you."

Slowly, Azee's breathing began to slow as she listened to the steady rhythm of Sinda's heart. The panic and fear that had gripped her slowly loosened and began to fall away, like caked on dirt in the rain. All the while, Sinda kept stroking her hair and whispering to her.

"You alright?" Sinda asked at last, glancing down at Azee.

"Y-yeah... I think so." As Azee took another deep breath she noticed, for the first time, that she was in water. Sinda held her an inch above the bottom of the pool, the bubbles tickling her foot pads as they rose up through porous rocks.

"You want me to let you go?"

Screwing up her courage one last time, Azee nodded.

Gently, Sinda bent down and placed Azee on the bottom of the pool. The water came up to just above Azee's belly button as she felt the bottom with her toes. The rock was surprisingly smooth, covered in small cracks through which rose the warmer water.

"So?" Sinda tilted his head. "Are you alright?"

"I... yeah." Azee nodded, her face splitting into a wide grin.

"You sure?" Sinda reached out and gently ran his finger under Azee's left eye. Azee was surprised to feel the dampness of tears upon her own fur.

"Something wrong?" Sinda asked.

"I... I don't know..." Azee rubbed her eyes. "I just... I wish I knew what I was so scared of. It feels so... so silly now."

Sinda smiled, gently stroking Azee's cheek. "Not silly at all."

Azee's face turned a little red and she giggled nervously.

"Now come on!" Sinda leapt backwards and floated upon the steaming water. "It doesn't get much better than this."

With only a flicker of hesitation, Azee joined in, plunging into the water with an elated cry.