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The Demon and the Dove Ch 1: Nocturnal Embraces

Through the forest helm pass a small mountain-ridge down cutting by the glade of trees and meadows; he was just leaving a small cross-road town. Now he however was traveling alone after the few rare days he had traveling with the tiger, Lithray. Apparently traveling to the province of Gyriva wouldn't be much of a challenge for Lithray but for Hato reaching Curia - by passing the Hovishiran kingdom - would prove to be much more challenging than he had thought. A few days had passed while being on his own, Hato had already grown a small title 'Town Helper' from a number of different people. (It turned out that helping people with herb collecting and other simple issues was really worth the pay-out.) By now he had grown used to traveling alone, although the late times getting into the safety of towns was worrisome, he never seemed to run into real trouble. At times Hato misjudged the distance and couldn't reach another until late into darkness, when the moon was nigh and howls caressed the mountains. I miss Karisif. He couldn't really tell why but he realized ever since he had left Serviath, Kiyoko, and all the rest behind; his entire world had changed into reality. Deep into the pulse of the night he still swore that he could hear a familiar quiver of sound, yet he wouldn't let that bother him so. Late into the night the forest heard a small click followed with a sharp spark. A few more and low-and-behold, Hato made a campfire and read deep into his map. If I take this set of mountain passes I should be able to avoid dipping further into the valley-side and being closer to Hovishira. He heard most of the stories, these Galiril knights under Kishervira's control sounded more horrifying then he remembered in his 'visions' I can't spend my time thinking about this anymore, I'm too tired for it. The moonlight above held a deep wispy-like ring under it, a clear sign that there was a storm ahead. He closed his eyes and fell asleep. A few hours had passed, Hato had horrible nightmares. One moment he was drowning, the next moment it was sheer horrors that only the depths of hell could create. It all revolved around the same scene again and again; a daring claw within the sky tore open a world between two mountains shrouded within shadow, an aura of pure hatred poured out and Hato stood powerless. Choking on his dreams, Hato shook himself awake to look into the eyes of a shrouded hood that loomed over him. Suddenly he growled reached for his sword... that wasn't hooked to his belt anymore. Instead, within the cloudy moon-lit night his blade gleamed above him, pointed down to his face "Fuck..." Hato looked up to their deep aqua eyes. They were sharp and narrow, a cat's eye. "No wonder why I didn't hear you." The one fucking night I didn't sleep with a hunting knife too... "Idiot."Hato swore it was a girl. I know that voice. That... Weirdly rough voice... Hato took a breath in. "Sylcion?" "No shit. What do you think you're doing out here?" He hissed "Have you forgotten what I'm trying to do!?" Right searching for King Galiril to stop his knights! Hato gave a small, nervous, smirk "I'm helping more than you know." "Oh really?" He hissed again, closing the sword in; barely "Have you ever of the Tomb of the Olden Kings?" Hato began "... A little bit of the legend yes" Sylcion replied "If Galiril was a true king, then that would mean there must be some sort of altar and since he is apparently alive we should be able to ask the Emperor of Curia to help find him." Sylcion seemed to pause. Hato held a breath - almost praying. "That's actually... really smart; but a legend is a legend." "It's worth a shot!" Hato expressed happily. Sylcion sheathed the sword "And for a moment I thought you were leaving your Sensei to do all the work!" He smiled and flicked his hood back. For a male he had long silver-black streaked hair tied in a raised pony-tail. "Get the fire stoked higher I'm freezing my tail off here!" The camp-fire came to a well versed roar crackling with stones underneath, the soft white plumes danced in the cold night sky. Hato curled under a small fur cloak and put his rucksack under him as a pillow. If it wasn't for the skinning equipment it may have been comfy! Hato watched Slycion take off his robe, drain it and hang it to dry nearby the fire. Then he stretched and turned for a moment removing a row of bandages all around his chest and stomach. Hato felt his eye's sink "You are making food right? I'm starved!" He was a she and she wasn't all too subtly covered! "C - Could you cover up a little bit..." Hato flushed through rolling his eyes to avoid contact "See something you like?" She recoiled rather coldly. Hato remained silent and looked through his knapsack "I - I could make a stew." He replied, drawing a pot from the bag. Softly within the forest a tap was brought to the floor a gentle raid-drop hit below. "Great." The rain began to downpour shortly there-after, Hato threw up a fur covering pitching up a small makeshift tent under a gnarl of oak-trees. It seemed ideal "Thanks, so where are you sleeping tonight?" Hato felt a small chuckle cough up. She is kidding... Right? "I figured in the tent I set up." Hato realized he was treading waters. Sylcion topless, pantless, she hadn't cared and instead got right in his face "So you'd leave a girl out here in the cold?" She softly whined and passed a sway of her hips, Hato tenderly stared into the woods trying to avoid her tail curl around her side dancing along her fur and breasts. She was graceful - elegant even, a true warrior; even he could sense the dominance she had and without a doubt in his mind he simply shrugged, gave a small laugh and turned away "Fair... Enough." Now where the hell am I going to sleep? Hato blushed in the next moment a pair of thin - but powerful - arms wrapped around his chest. He felt her body press against his, she was strong, a firm, but curvy build. He had to bite down the blush that grew across his cheeks "I bet you'd love to share it." She purred a tender lull teasing his ear and making it twitch. Awkwardly trying to avoid it he heard her snicker "You've always been a pussy." After that she propped her hands on the back of her neck letting her tail whisk left and right before walking away. It was slender tail but untidy, she hadn't cared about the burn patches or cut grooves that dug into the pattern. Hato patted the back of his head. That sounds way too familiar... "And hurry with that food bitch!" Hato smiled, that was playful in the least so he sighed and pulled out an iron pot, some herbs, treated pheasant breast, and began cooking away.

By the time he was done - not like it meant much at all - Slycion had already taken refuge in the only tent. She even ran a thin steel thread for her own robes to dry off nearby the fire. Hato on the other hand was the one trying to stop the fire from dying out and was already soaked through by the rain. The water wafs pouring down into most of the night and there wasn't any food left (Sylcion was a rather heavy eater when It came down to it, Hato only packed enough portions for one) so he sitting further from the fire than comfortable although Sylcion on the other hand was dry and warm. I really am a pussy... Hato smiled jokingly and flicked his hair from his face. The wet strands sent water around as he looked up and closed his eyes for just a moment. The water felt warm and soothing... he seemed to smile more out-worldly. The moonlight peered from the clouds and from deep within his chest he found that lift. Gently he heard footsteps from behind him, he looked to the sky - watched with wide eyes as gentle silver flames - like small embers and lights - seemed to surround the air around him. A gasp touched brushed his ears and he turned - he turned to look up to Sylcion, she was huge! Hato felt his eyes sink I'm dreaming... right? "By the gods... Angel?" He tried to speak to her she clasped her head. <All I said was "Yes"> "That's not it... Angel, you're talking right to me." <Well... yeah I mean who else would I talk to?> "No no! You're communicating telepathically!" She pulled out a knife, letting the reflection caste back at him, for Hato to look in he felt a chill run through his spine. "You... look like a creature I've been told about. <And what's that?> Slycion giggled before brushing her hair away "You look like a Solarqui..." Hato blanked out and took a good long look. He was small - that was certain - between the size of a robin and an owl, his chest was black-furred - oddly most of his fur turned opposite with the change - His gold tail was now white, along with his forearms and paws, and his face was black - which followed his chest-line. It was a broad chest, almost like a doves but it reminded Hato the distinctiveness a bat would have. His ears loped up like a wolf's or a fox's - although they felt heavy - and his face still kept a small distinct muzzle ahead of it. He still had hair - he thanked whatever god responsible - but it was a golden blond that turned into black edges and highlights, rather than his black hair turning gold. His eyes weren't amber and gold anymore, but were gold with a tone of amber. His wings were black on the inside -He had wings!? That's what really got his attention - they were separate from his paws and arms, and they were gold on the outside. <What the hell am I?> Hato fell back he realized that he had a wolf-like tail to boot! "A Solarqui." Sylcion said again. "They're a... mythological creature said to be the ancestor of bats." <What?> "Yes, now." She picked him up she seemed to have a thought in her mind. "I don't fully understand, but I have a few good ideas." Being smaller now Hato felt cold. "How about we stay by the tent and I'll tell you what I know." Hato nodded and watched her pick up his hooded tunic the deep sage was soaked through. "I can't believe you actually sat out here for a few hours... Really there was room in the tent. I swear to the gods you take me way too darkly." <I figured you'd be upset Slycion> Hato giggled, it sounded more of a cree-like purr. It was soft and tender and almost tickled his nose when he called it "If you made a move I'd kill you." Slycion was rather blunt "And don't call me Sylcion, call me Silver." She chuckled. "No, call me Sensei after-all I am your teacher Angel." <My name is Hato!> Why didn't I just bring that up before? "My elder named you Angel! In front of me that is you name." Silver was brutally strict, it didn't take long at all for Hato to back down. "Now sit down and warm up, you're still just a stubborn child! A thief like you can hardly fight let alone steal." <A thief?> "Yes, you steal stuff all the time! I caught you stealing bread years ago remember!?" Hato dug into his memory, ever since Fylakas's magic he tried his best not to delve into his past after. He realized that he hardly knew himself anymore but he found it better to not worry too much about it. Hato looked up to Silver's eyes she gently put a finger-tip on his hair before petting it generously. "You gave me one hell of a run too." Hato felt something off and instinctively he hid into her robe. "A - Angel?" She almost blushed. <There's something wrong...> Hato couldn't tell if he was whimpering or not "What is it?" A sudden crack appeared from the forests edge, three large shadows sprang to life from beyond the fire. "Alright get out here mutt! We've come a long way to kill you!" One stepped out in a full black-armor plate he wielded a halberd and kept a long sword linked to his side. He wore a full-helm, covering away his furred face; the red-gold emblem was Hovishirian. Hato's mid-sized form hid deep into her robes. <I've never seen these people before.> Silver stood up "Who are you?" She retrieved a dagger (One of the many Hato found in her robe, he decided not to move them) "Boss? I think we" The armor cut the other scout off "No... This is definitely his." He noticed Hato's sword by the tent "Where is the criminal cat!" The large figure pointed the Halberd at her "Talk quickly or I'll kill you where you stand!" "I didn't think the mutt would have some pussy with em." The other two soldiers began to laugh "Who the hell are you talking about?" Silver replied distressed, her act was beyond professional. The full-plate towered over her, the Halberd slammed into the ground; playfully she flinched. All part of her act to try and throw them off; his mouth toned down against her face, Hato could smell the booze on his breath and cringed in disgust "I'm know you're lying cat!" He hissed out Hato couldn't tell what race he was. "I know a few ways how to make a bitch talk!" The full plate grabbed her arm Hato just peered for a second he swore the creature was planning to break it. He slammed her against a nearby tree "H- hey! C- Come on now!" Hato was dazed from the push, his little nose hit against her abs. He felt a sudden surge of questions race through his head before finding a small answer. An assassin never strikes from the front and never takes on more than one unless the advantage is theirs. It was her voice Hato understood, she was trying to do gain the advantage "You two, scout around! That mutt has to be nearby." "And the girl?" The plate grinned Hato watched the shadowy lips unfurl into a laugh that made his blood boil "I'll handle the cat I've been a little pent anyways" The armored solider slammed Silver against the tree again "Now you can tell me where he is and I'll be gentle, I'll let you enjoy it." Silver's face went cold, she spat at the helm "Fucking pervert. Let me go!" The animal slammed her against the tree-side again, pain rippled through her. <Just stab the jerk!> Hato called out to him. He heard a whisper in reply "His armor's too thick." She hid the dagger back into her robe "I'm not letting you go." Hato saw him bring his helm up to her neck. "... I love that scent." He drew more of it in before Hato watched him take both sides of her robes. "Sluts like you don't need these." Hato heard a single long tear the creature ripped the top half of her cloak apart, it pissed Hato off. There was potential in the air around him hardly a cloud in the moon-lit night he felt the power surge from him before instinct closed his eyes. All around his darkness the world was created again - a true third eye manifested a creature from deep within his imagination. He heard the armor speak twice over - Hato had two pairs of ears, but only one pair of eyes. "Now" Hato watched - almost from behind the tall armored beast - as a gauntlet wrapped around Silver's neck, she seemed to bite her tongue and hold a hiss down "Take off the rest for me or I'll do it after I kill you" She was hesitant the armor tightened his grip and she gave in when the pressure dug deep into her chest, gently she tugged at the rags that covered her hips, trying to cover her women-hood with her thighs. From behind the creature (Which stood almost seven feet) a creation of twisted origin formed standing at twelve. Its legs were clearly digitigrade, the muzzle broad and thick; its claws reached beyond the measure of inches, a sudden almost human word bounced within Hato's mind; a true Werewolf. There within the white abyss of his mind an elegant-prince of midnight fur - churning with red runes watched him, eyed him with a tender consent. Hato stood taken back at the tall demon that lived within him when it gently nodded and said "You've finally awoken... now create forms within your illusion. " Hato opened his eyes again and within the night-forest he was and towards the moon he let a howl ring that shook the very earth to its core. The fear was seen from within the creature's helm when he finally turned. Hato realized that he, as a... Solarqui could paint his image away from himself and morph it to his liking. So he made the illusion-demon breath out letting plumes of black-soot from its nostrils it took a growl spitting a fire that even felt real, the solider looked to the demon for a minute longer before Hato let the demon charge, swinging its claws towards the helm. It missed when he dove out of the way and the claws fissured through a tree trunk; Hato thought quickly and created another illusion - that where the tree was shredded. In the confusion Silver took a dive away, landing by the tent to grab Hato's rucksack, sword, and tunic before bolting off into the darkness of the woods. She retrieved two daggers from her ripped robes and crossed by one solider; a solid blow to the neck before diving around a tree set and throwing the two at the other scout to make a perfect hit. She was gone and so was Hato, clinging onto her pant leg as she bolted off into the woods. <My map said that there's a city somewhere, if we keep on the trek we can take shelter there> Silver nodded and gave a grin, Hato felt unbearably tired, the illusions cost him a lot of energy to project. "I was going to try and explain what the elders told me about you." Silver called between jumping past a hunch of roots, her momentum was perfect and her speed was unmatched by anyone he'd ever seen before. "They told me that you're not a normal Learian... almost two-hundred and fifty years ago for eons, Learia was separated into hundreds of thousands of genetic family types. Dogs stayed with dogs of their kind, cats much the same, but some were born with rare powers." <Powers?> "Yeah, seeing you change the way you did makes me think of some old stories I think you're a..." She waved off for a moment, almost swallowing. "... You may be a Lunarian, a breed that can shapeshift into some other kinds of creatures and change feral and back. They have amazing powers and are even told in some of history's greatest tales of being real hero's" She laughed "I've heard they can even change their sex too! They make perfect spies - especially those that have used the power throughout their lives." <How do you know so much about this?> She giggled again, her hand briskly skimmed a wooden fence. They broke into a field lit by the moonlight and the wind - the wind calling throughout the tall grass and the trees high, high above. Hato was stunned at her ability to run. "My father actually, he was said to be one. The Lunaria used to be very common they lived in the mountains and shared their home with many wild animals but... When war broke out between the two olden kingdoms most of their towns and villages were destroyed, the most notable was the Battle of Crescent it took place right where the two mountains meet. It held an ancient legend about a god and his demon brother fighting constantly again and again only to realize they were destroying that which both the god and demon loved so much." Hato lost time she was running so fast for so long. <I... Think I remember a story> "Oh?" <Yes a Fox named Julian and a Cat named Sjerin> Silver chuckled again "That reminds me of the spring festival, that is the story that breeds it to life; how the God of Trickery - Faith - asked Julian to play a trick on an elders daughter from another clan. They fell in love after Julian accidently tricked himself but the two clan's begin to war against one another from it. You tell this story every year to the younger children, you love this story!" She slowed down to a real city, even had a paved road and before Hato could even think he was closer towards Curia than he believed. <We're in RedWater!> A wooden sign towered over the gate. It was guarded by a white stone hedge where Hato marvelled at a Curian guard in plate and armor (RedWater is a trades-city under the control of Curia) but the guard hardly saw them sneak in "Yeah you fool." She giggled "That's why I confronted you tonight, you were heading here. I guess you're sneaking onto a trade-ship then?" A passing dog seemed to stop he flushed and politely noted that Silver's dress was... Uncovered it took him a moment to clue in that it was torn and shredded "By gods were you attacked?" "... Yeah." "Uh... I'm a tailor I wouldn't mind helping a young female out." The dog was a sleaze even Hato could tell, but Silver still graciously took his paw (She wouldn't need to worry, she only did just kill two soldiers) so the dog took her hand, very softly and headed off in the other direction. <I've never... This guy's a pervert!> Hato decided to perch on her shoulder trying to scare the dog off "Is that... a bat?" He began "Oh it's actually my pet... Bat" <Who are you calling pet!?> Hato jumped on the defense she simply nudged her finger at him "Weird looking... Bat." He tugged on her paw "We're almost to my shop." <Why are you doing this?> "The man is being exceptionally nice because RedWater actually celebrates Learian holidays, the spring festival is a time for fireworks and marks the annual... Courtship of people." She whispered to him. <Sorry?> "In other words there's lots of sex, drinking, love and food. The best and easiest time to find a lover or just mate for the sake of it is the Spring Festival Keirikia" Hato went blunt <Oh...> The dog opened the door to his shop he wasn't lying about being a tailor at all, it was a cozy place the man probably lived on the floor above . "I've always like RedWater nice people and the view of the harbor is just beautiful at sunset." She clasped her paws to her chest the canine looked back and stole a glimpse of her before blushing and politely asking (After giving her an outfit of course) if she could strip down so he could fix her robes. She did, right in front of the dog clearly bent over as if to 'innocently' show off with a grin. The middle-aged male nervously turned to look at Hato - the apparent 'bat' - who was sitting on the counter next to him. Hato passed a dirty look but said and did nothing when the dog turned back around to notice that Silver didn't change into her new outfit "I - is something wrong?" The male stuttered out "I'm just comfy is all." Silver purred tenderly by a fireplace in the main room - undressed. The dog went back to his sewing work while Hato took time to guess his breed, watching his quick and nimble fingers cross in a leather stitch set.A retriever! No the fur isn't short enough, maybe it's a half and half? The dog had blonde-long fur but it looked much like a golden retriever, Hato watched his paws quickly work on the robes sewing up most of the tears with quick strokes. Hato felt a gentle but obvious tension in the air and tried his best to ignore it. <It looks like he's expecting something back> Hato felt like he was talking out loud but sitting right by the dog's ear without a response let him take note quickly that the tailor couldn't hear him. Hato turned to look at Silver she simply smirked it even felt dirty to him "My apologies." She spoke out loud where the dog softly turned up from tying a sage-colored cloth "Sorry?" "I tend to do this sort of stuff a lot." She reclined on a chair, almost to spread her thighs. "You know, around the spring-time." She gave a small innocent smile "Thanks for helping out!" <Now this is the part where he asks for 'Payment' right?> Hato landed on the mantle by her it was of red and white stone Silver gave him a small swat "If it gives us a place to stay I'll gladly 'pay' the mutt." She softly giggled "Anyways, I don't get to have 'fun' often. I have to conceal my sex remember?" She whispered and stretched "Assassins avoid RedWater constantly no one would recognize me as one here." <What about your robes?> "They're of a preachers make" She softly singed into his ear "Almost everyone thinks I'm either a low-life traveler or a priestess." <And the knives you have inside it!?> "They're already in your bag Hato, I have quick hands; what else can I say?" She snickered and watched the dog wave to her after an hour passed by "I just finished, it's a bit rough but it'll do in a pinch." He lulled before requesting if she could try it on. Silver wasn't too worried about being bent over to take the robes from the dog, she even giggled when his face turned five shades of red.

What the hell? Hato froze on the mantle where is this feeling coming from?_Hato flew to the windowsill and watched the gate so far down the road. _Something's coming here... I just can't tell what. The Aspen trees swayed far in the distance leaving a *Crreeeeek* into the air the eerie sound made the fur on his wings perch. Hato shook his head trying to free himself form the pestilence of thoughts. No luck. Under the cover of the night loon's called and sang in tender moonlit skies, the clouds bellowed high above calling gentle songs into the cobble ad limestone. For staying at the tailors - his... wife wasn't all too happy walking in on a cat changing - they ran out more than they were kicked out. The re-knit of her cloak took at least a few decent hours, after-all they did stay for part of the night and then they were back on the street. Hato was rather relieved that he didn't need to see this cat (Whom he can hardly remember anyways) 'undressed' anymore - it too awkward to begin with! Although Hato couldn't remember much at all he still got a bit of a motherly feel from Silver (Well as motherly as a contract-killer could be) or maybe her like a sister in the very least. Hato hid inside her small belt-satchel (It was his! She simply took it from his rucksack...) it was a leather and pelt make; so it was warm and comfortable at least. How long am I going to be stuck in this form for? Hato began to beat at his head for answers. How did I even change in the beginning!!? He felt something hit the base of his tail, it made him yelp in surprise but he noticed (after walking around in circles...) that it was his ears they were huge compared to him and made the shape of a diamond with golden-blonde fur. He realized that the insides were thick black, the fur made them itchy from time to time. This is just too weird... I'm a bat with a long tail and fox-like ears that touch my legs... The satchel bounced high, Hato saw the top lift so he curiously looked out into the dark world watching people pass bye. It was a restless night where the Alderwood would creak and the spruce tree's sharply swayed from the wind, a wind that would seem to cry. Shed a gentle tear from the clouds and shatter open the skies and heavens of the night, stars would twinkle in the silence as a howl would call to the moon. Hato realized that he had closed his eyes long ago.

From the night the grass held gentle dew hidden in mist, Hato walked forward sending droplets high into the night leaving a stars above in its place "Where am I?" he called to hear a call reply "Paradise." Under the night the stars and clouds, towards the break of the sun in mid-day Hato saw mystified in such a small bat-like form to see him. The wolf was large indeed runes glowed tenderly blood-red through his fur; he seemed to smile - warm, loving. "At least I think of it that way." Hato tilted his head one of his ears brushed the ground before he shook them left and right. There was a laugh - young and curious - Hato looked to the demon-wolf with big eyes "You're the second Lunarian to act like that." Hato gave another tilt "Like what?" "Well... I guess... Playful, and curious; full of life and naivety" The large canid chuckled again letting his nine-tails swing around to his front before he lay down, looking up to the sky. "You have quiet the imagination I'd say. Right now this is what's inside you." "So... you are?" "I am Rayne Demon of the Moon's Crescent." He didn't seem at all threatening in fact he was rather kind "Aren't... Demons usually well..." Hato felt his face turning red, he began to feel embarrassed "Violent? Dark? Well I've never actually hated people, well... Mortals I guess." The wolf stretched and loomed over him. "A Solarqui is usually larger, even to that of an eagle, you're a bit small. Like you and I; we are the exceptions... Different, that's what defines who we are Hato." "Why am I here?" Hato looked into the demon's eyes; a red-moon "Well I believe you wanted to talk really after-all I feel emotion and thought. I just believed you wanted somebody to talk to." Rayne started with a smile "If you need to talk at all, I'll be here for you to talk to Hato." "What did Fylakas do to me? Why? I mean I don't understand any of it." Rayne frowned "He put you under a spell, a form of alteration and illusion - a hybrid if you will. I believe he was trying to..." "To what?" "Awaken something inside you under his will." "What was it!?" Hato went wide-eyed now. Rayne was quiet for a while the silence was pure agony "How..." He finally started "How much do you know about your clan? Your village?" "The Lunaria? I've just learned about them today... I, I don't remember anything about living in a village really. I remember living with my mother and father deep in the woods, a nice cottage house nearby the river-side." "The Lunaria are..." Rayne shook his head side to side "... Something's happening, open your eyes Hato." He did without question looking out of the satchel with tired eyes; how long was he gone? An hour? Maybe two? He felt hot and began panting while staring at a small fire inside an inn. "Yes we have one room, that'll be 35 Curi" Hato watched Silver scratch her head "You don't take Hovishirian coins by chance do you?" She chuckled nervously raiding through Hato's coin purse (Most of it was given to Serviath) "..." The inn keeper looked to his paws "... Fine, I will take 70 Hovishirian." Silver counted through the coins before sighing and apologising to the inn keeper "Sorry, I don't seem to have enough..." She turned to leave the keeper grabbed her shirt "... I got something I'd love for you to do for me" <Another peeeerrrvvv> Hato giggled in her mind, his voice echoed back to him "And what would that be?" "Well 35 Curia is rather cheap I'd say if you are willing to serve some drinks around I'll gladly let you have that room." This is what you wanted me to see Rayne?_Hato heard nothing, saw nothing when he closed his eyes shut "Alright alright." She went to grab a tray "Well you need an outfit first" He tossed her a black and white cloth - it seemed rather cliché "Get changed in the back room, and be careful there isn't a lock." Under the silence and shade of the room, wine bottles and kegs hung in the cellar, Hato heard Silver hiss "You owe me, I hope you realize that Hato." <It can't be THAT bad> Hato swallowed his words; the outfit was beyond skimp y and he felt a red line dart from one cheek to the other. <M - Maybe it is...> "I don't mind being with _honest_people I tend to not need to kill honest people." She pulled Hato from the satchel, held her tightly in her paw "You! Are so lucky we are in RedWater!" She shoved him back into the bag - rather harshly - and from the crease Hato watched a part of her tunic-like robe flatten down against the satchel; he was left in the dark. When he finally saw light again he was shoved into a pocket of her new uniform, Hato only saw her face in a fury of blush and embarrassment. <Well... you were kinda... open with the other guy> "My fur covers my body exceptionally well! Thank you!" "Well." The door cracked open a hair "You ready? Or did you back down?" "I'll be right out, just get the first round ready!" She heard a laugh from behind the door "I love a feisty worker!" it made her hiss Hato could hear it from under her breath "Cloth like these just show off the body and tighten the fur around... private places. People see sluts out of that. Walking around nude is better than wearing this stuff..." She began looking down to her breast pocket muttering "If I ever go to Merciataea, I'll kill those tailors...Dear god you're ears a huge!" They were either crumpled around her shirt or sticking out of the pocket. <Tell me about it...> "Well Hato." It was Rayne's voice. "I'd say some small-town illusions can help her out. I'm pretty sure you can 'modify' what people see when she walks out there after-all she IS helping you." He heard a chuckle. "I'm a bit of an odd demon at heart, I enjoy watching people. Anyways you need to learn how to control your power" <I figured that...> "Figured what?" Hato realized that Silver could still hear him. She walked out the door after a long sigh; Hato felt that little 'Potential' so she walked out in a normal looking outfit. The inn-keeper was surprised at first and couldn't figure what to say Hato smirked feeling victory <That's what you get you pervert! No one makes her look like that!> Silver bent over taking the tray with a grin on her face "Pass the boy's a few rounds? That's all right?" "Uhh yes..." the inn keeper held his head high although even Hato could feel he was disappointed and questioning _why_and _how. Silver slipped into the crowd dodging a few people who walked on in and placing a drink down at a table (Of course saying it was complementary, after-all the agreement was for her to serve some drinks and the room was hers, he never said anything about her making money from people.) So a few hours passed into the night; Hato's illusion was somewhat large and almost simple but he was starting to get tired. A little pass midnight she had already made more than enough from tips and eventually the inn-keeper admitted defeat. "The room is yours; upstairs, third from the left." She happily took the keys and went up the stairs, and the man handed her the small dress-like robe the tailor made for her when she walked by the counter. She grinned and thanked him the inn keeper frowned in disappointment as she walked into the room and locked the door behind her. She put Hato on the bed a puff of smoke sounding like a hiss sprung up and forced her to cough, and open the window. There he was - no longer a Solarqui - half on the bed and half off of it, asleep. She chuckled and gave him a kiss on the cheek, convinced he was out like a light "Thanks you idiot for the illusion work." She chuckled and bumped noses with him. "I guess I know how you change back now." She tucked him into the bed, double checked the door, and then decided to climb in with him. "Illusions and magic and transformation..." She nuzzled into his back, felt Hato breath deep and rested a paw on his chest. "For a Lunaria... For any male... he's slim and his chest is plump for a boy, not to mention he's only 5"5'? Maybe less? I just hope he can realize..." That he doesn't need to be perfect.

-

Hato woke up the next morning - on the floor like he expected. Silver was all warm and cozy in the bed while he was sprawled down with a thin sheet of covers over-top. Happy to know that he wasn't the size of a bird he stretched his paws and yawned, he was still exhausted from last night. I totally blacked out for the last hour._He rubbed the sleep from his eye and stood up, and turned to Silver - she was awake not to mention dressed. It took Hato a minute to realize He wasn't dressed at all. It was all in an instant, he threw up the sheet (Which was see-through to some extent) and covered his lower self; his face was beyond red "I - I'm sorry..." He lowered his head, although he needed to look up to see her face. She giggled "Not like there's much there to begin with." She laughed, not bitter but more of a childish tone that hung in her words. Hato nodded and chuckled a bit with her, his thoughts scalding him like a red-hot branding iron _Never do that again Hato!... you stupid twat! Silver threw him his robe, the chain-mail catching into his fur "Throw on those robes of yours! We are going to try for a boat today!" Silver stretched. The tailor made her a nice pair of robes but Hato couldn't stop to thinking that they looked a lot like a short Kimono. "After that we can discuss this whole Lunarias thing in much more detail, it pretty much kept me up all night!" A vibe touched the air Hato sharpened in an instant "Something's wrong..." "What?" Silver giggled, Hato almost dropped the sheet before he blushed hot again "T - Turn around! I - It's embarrassing..." She sighed and turned letting Hato dress but what he didn't realize was that the window reflected him perfectly, while Silver on the other hand could see all of him. Finally dressed they walked out of the inn, the owner hardly gave them much of a stare (He was busy trying to figure out why he had so many people coming in that day.) From the confusion a white-robe cut into the square, he bumped into Silver and Hato, A Collie to their surprise, hidden behind a white and gold hood "Sorry." The dog said and was already gone by the time they looked back to see him from the distance came the sounds of hooves. Silver turned they were in the market-square, where the docks was a few blocks away. Her eyes went wide "H - Hato, was that clock tower there yesterday night?" He turned, in complete disbelief himself "I - I've never seen that tower before." He replied looking at the white-stone tower, a huge gold bell within the top triangle "And the market, it's even larger than before. Not to mention there are houses along the mountainside too and that wall above us." It was all true... but none of it was there the day before, Hato felt his eyes widen "That's... not possible... at all." Inside his head came a voice "The Lands of Geshia, Hato. Remember?" Hato felt himself nod: no. "Geshia divided the lands separately, two sets, one which is ours, and The Lands of Geshia a plain even closer to heaven." A chill surged through "Those lands are coming as one again... Hato" A sharp snarl hit the air. "Take the girl and disappear within the crowd now!" Hato grabbed Silver's hand and bolted into the crowd of people, she was incoherent at the time Hato only heard the ringing and the hooves that beat against cobblestone. He stopped right by an alleyway, smoke rose from a bakery nearby; finally she turned to him "Are you crazy? We are trying to NOT make a scene." Hato stared hard and from the crowd, on top of a black armored horse was a full plate and helm of black and red armor - A Hovishirian. "Right there, I guess that guy found us." "Shit... He brought some friends too." Hato noticed an advance guard from Curia, possibly a local militia take the front with pike-men "Hovishirian! What brings you to a Curian City!" The pikes took stance, the people in the market backed to corners. There was at least seventy Hovishirians ranging from archers to swordsmen to even a scout in the bunch. There was one the one heavy plate though his armor polished to a shine "We, I, The Twelfth Royal Knight of his true King Kishervira are here to pronounce that Curia may have a highly wanted person within its City of RedWater. Here by Order of the King, and by my hand do I decree that anybody who has seen this dog to please step forward now as we are here to bring him to justice. Anyone found hiding this dog shall be murdered publically and openly by means of execution." The full-armor held a wanted poster up it was Hato, every detail flawless. "We know he is here and if this doesn't prove it." Hato felt his blood boil. They pulled out a young bunny in filthy, bloody rags; her hands bound in chains and her ankles much the same. "We will kill this girl here and now! In a precise period of ten minutes we will grab the next and do the same." "You can't do this you fucking pig!" It came from a militia guard in front "Watch your tongue boy!" The full-helm drew his halberd, a solid pipe of steel with a menacing head still stained in blood. Hato felt his blood rise, his eyes sharpened he could see everything perfectly. Silver's voice called his name softly "Curia is a neutral state, interfering with Hovirshiria means siding with the Tishkian Empire!" A swordsmen slammed his iron boot against the back of the young bunny's leg, her cry, her tears. Hato could see them he could feel them_from the distance he stood. He swore he heard Silver say 'We need to leave now!' but that was over the sound of a clash that resembled two stained swords over a battlefield; Hato was already across the market place, a distance beyond forty feet when the Halberd slammed down against a current of lightning that fractured from Hato's paw. The axe-like head should have cleaved his left hand off, but there he was standing between the young girl and a monster more hideous than any spawn of hell. From his right hand the clash came again, a spout of thunder that forged from his paw into a thin set-aura; a sword that reached a thin line from his elbow down that made a thin blade that was as wide as a and reached like a long-sword. It fractured into the Halberd, the helm was quick and jumped back marvelled, confused. Before anything a sword unsheathed - two in fact, where Hato held the blade at the throat of a swordsmen who tried to swing at the girl. His short-sword shot thunder that launched the solider a quarter foot back. The girl looked to Hato his eyes were taken by solid gold "You'll be okay now." around the town was silent, few pockets of words rose 'Is that the Mikazuki sh?rudo? Kaminari ken? Lightning or...? An Elementist? No impossible, that power? A shockwave? ... Lunarians... are back?'_ Hato took a hard look at the full helm, the armor chuckled, stood before him "So the fuck arrived, I don't know what kind of magic that was but this Halberd and armor is made out of solid Galirian Steel, it's nearly impossible to break." The laughter disappeared after a row of chips hits the air a snap echoed through; his staff cut clean in half and his armor sliced enough to par him. The blood hit the stone street where the Helm looked down as if to see his blood for the first time "T - That..." A second clash hit the air the force taken into his palm. Hato watched as the sparks curiously licked from his finger-tips. What... What is all of this? This power? He was feeling ill what is this feeling of hate? Hato didn't tell himself to move, his body did it for him with a force of hundreds. He wasn't controlling himself he felt his hand hit against the helm a flash of current spewed from his palm. For whatever reason, Hato was scared... Scared that he killed him but he realized shortly after that he forced his hand to land at his opponents shoulder sending a spike from his hand outward through the plate. Voices darted from one end of his head to the other again and again, anger hatred, disappointment; something wanted to kill the knight. Something inside_of him, the ...Kaminari-Ken was gone; entirely. The power slipped right away from his fingertips the moment he made his own choice, a voice deep inside him whispering coldly "You're just like you're worthless father, a fool so blindly intent on _love." From the corner of his eye, another shard came at him; it was dark sage... but it was the same as Hato's new-found power. A fist came from Silver she parried the sword that aimed for Hato's neck. He realized that his 'light show' didn't feign any of them "Kill the mutt!" The full helm drew a sword and swung, Hato dove back landing back to back to Silver "If we get out of this alive, I'll kill you myself you idiot!" "You know about this thing!?" Hato tightened his grip blocking off a shard of steel that darted for him; whatever the power it was long gone now "Yes you fool!" She exclaimed her paws still crackling from the thunder, like dry sand in the hot mid-day sun. It wasn't as potent Hato noticed from the beginning - in fact - it seemed to drain her energy every second of the way. "I can't keep this up forever. I..." She bit her lip "I can't believe you're pure-blood." A sword went for her Hato used his chain-mail to cover her blind the blade sparked against the tight metal rings that shielded his arms like gauntlets. From his soul a small bark came to him "I'll help you out Hato!" Rayne called and that's when he felt a burn shatter through his chest. He felt his eyes glaze again - a demon's aura flowing from deep within his heart - his chest lit from a flame. A row of people walked back; the demon - the creation he made from illusions was real. Nine wolf-like tails burst fire around the earth - a black and red-flame; words darted through his mind. "It's a demon-soul flame, it endlessly burns and the wielder can choose how hot or bright it becomes." What did you do to me? "I joined us together, my energy with your form. Don't mind the tails you get used to it after a while." Hato's fur held the sharp red rune, but his pelt was much the same color.

The fire flaked from his paws resting around his tails before it sent waves forward creating a shield before them. Silver was lost, stunned, mesmerized by his new shape and form "Get the girl out of here Silver" Hato looked back to her his moon-red eyes glimmering in determination. "I think I can handle these guys for now." Hato launched a tail through the ground the aura darted out the other side of the flame-shield. "I'm going to get the other people these monsters dragged with them." Silver seemed to stare for a while Hato couldn't tell what it was that shone in her eyes. She quickly snapped the chains with her sage-glowed hands and picked up the young bunny whispering 'everything's going to be okay' Hato felt his tail slam against a shield, the aura then whipped around knocking back a row of soldiers. T- This power is intense Rayne "You'll learn to control it." The voice echoed through his mind, he felt a second tail dip into the cobblestone "I'll figure out if they are stationed outside of town. If there are more, which they were stupid enough to tell us, I'd figure they tried moving them back a while ago." "Alright can you find them Rayne?" Arrows flickered off of the fire that shielded him with his thoughts he could morph it, create a shield or even a sword. A curl came to his face, something was smiling but it didn't feel much like him. Words threw themselves into his head war, murder, glory, screaming, burn, fire... kill. Thousands of voices rang through his head, through him, at him, poisoning his every thought, and trying to control his every move. Every sound and every thought it was all pointless - no matter what he did he was possessed by the darkness in his heart and soul. It burrowed beyond the Rayne's power and Hato felt it rip him apart, Rayne's energy was gone - the power was gone and replaced itself with a crack louder than any other. The Kaminari Ken was already back the wave shattered through his arm replacing the dark shroud of smoke with that of bright white-blue. Laughter? Hato heard it crack like the thunder that shattered two paws he could see it. The robes, the shrouded hood - grey like stone and the face hidden behind a pitch-black mesh of darkness. The eyes glowed but they were like looking at clouds - broken by sunlight and in-between every pocket was the eternity of shadow and from their hand was a deep shrouded blue. Black-blue as if outlined in his eyes, the voices were all_gone. His energy was all _gone "And as the hero stands to fall..." He smiled and took Hato by the throat, slamming him against a wall. Hato couldn't follow his speed, held mercilessly against a paw larger than his own head. "The victor rises once again." The crackling came to his face, the blue-black flame-like lightning cutting into his cheek with a blaze that sent blood across his face. The pain from such a small cut, it was excruciating. Hato hardly spoke, hardly whimpered at the blood that shed by his face; the blade cutting the side of his muzzle before five pins appeared before his eyes. "I am the torturer, I am the judge, I am the law and I am the jury." The pins drove closer, sitting before his center. They were thin and resembled red-hot needles - sparks licking off to parch his face before the cackling tone "Look into my eyes and see this judgment." Hato was forced to; he was forced to witness horror

It all started by a mountain (Hato could see it all as if he were a bird high above in the sky) it was there where he noticed the people in town, a beautiful town so similar to RedWater; roads led off towards a city where a castle stood tall and proud in the middle. The perfect mix of industry and country really, trees grew amber and gold in the fall letting leaves to gently rest on the cobblestone where every now and then a flower would grow between the cracks. It was perfect or so Hato believed it to be. There was a girl, a curious little wolf with bright-green eyes and an odd patch on her ear. She was watching - between two buildings- a butterfly. It was there another approached her - a husky stood large a smile on his face. She would turn and smile and giggle 'Hi daddy!' and run to hug him. Hato watched the chill ran through his spine when she, the smile and her beautiful white pelt, was stained red. Her own father cut her throat open. Right there, in the open, as if not to care. A smile twisted and malformed almost laughed at the tears that ran down his daughters face as if to ask 'Why? Daddy why?' She hardly screamed but could only gag, her neck arched back with her blood... too much of it all over. His eyes went wide as it repeated, again and again and again, all from a different angle - a different place with a voice to bite in his ear. "This is what you are, what we all are." And he was back on his knees in the city, lips quivering, about to throw up. Before he felt his fist clench... the voice taunting "I killed her... For power... Ultimate endless power." The blades shattered by his face again - the bright brilliant blue churning black, entirely black and white. The cloak looked to him with broken eyes, sick and evil, the sword arched to his face with Hato wondering... 'Why?' And there the light blinded him. ... ... ... The shadow arched back, the light that came - red, not green or blue or black, but red darted by. Hato watched and saw from the corner of his eye that a snow-white hood shoots by him. The figure enveloped in light and then was gone after a spectacle of a fight that lasted less than half-a-second. The person, that 'Torturer' was gone. No body, no blood. just gone With Hato to keep wondering 'Why?' before throwing up, first coughing up blood - not a lot, but it was enough to let his eyes widen. Whatever had happened it all was over and all around him blood Bodies; dead, all of them dead surrounded him. Most slashed and mutilated - most of them were Hovishirian. All of them with a single head before him a helm of pitch-black steel laid in wait covered in its own blood. The market square was covered in smoke with Hato to cry 'Why?' "Angel!" Silver was standing above him behind her was a group of green cloaks. Rangers (not Serviath's group) stood behind her. He could only assume that they were the ones that fought against the Hovishirians, or so he hoped. "What was that!? That person?" They all saw everyone saw it the people hiding behind doors and locked windows, all of them saw the grey-hood. The militia men, they stood further off. Healers treating them with only Hato to look to Silver "... Why?" Before she helped him up "I don't know what happened, I saw a black light to start... it just bolted from one end to another and then... Everyone was dead or dying. These Rangers were passing nearby and noticed the slaves outside the city. Immediately they recognized that they were from a town in Tishkia, near the border that Hovishira sacked. They came in to help and found this. "Are... the children safe?" Silver looked at Hato with gentle consent her eyes tender before she smiled. "The girl? She's shaken up and there weren't many children with the slaves, I guess... We should go." She grabbed Hato's hand but before they even made it past the fading smoke a spear came before him "You're under arrest!" It wasn't the Rangers but the Curian Militia. Silver stood before the solider "On what ground!?" "Simply put, he is a Lunarian! He will be brought before the Emperor and then either imprisoned for life or put to hang publically in the Royal Imperial City." A second milita took Hato by the arm, Silver darted across - landing her knee in the soldier's chest. "Restrain them both!" It didn't take long, Silver wasn't intent on killing them and Hato could hardly fight. Not in the state he was in. Hato was shackled first; shackled by the arms, legs, and then the neck. "Keep him tightly restrained, he even moves... No. He even fucking breathes cut his fingers off." Hato was the first to get dragged off, Silver was walked behind him yelling "This is what we get for trying to help damnit!?" "S - Sir?" A solider approached him "What!?" The plate barked at a younger solider "He... is just a kid. T- That's a little overboard Sir." The older solider approached him "And you are going to be the one to do it, understand! He is a Lunarian, not a Learin, not a Hovishiran, not part of the English army, a god-forsaken Lunarian! They do nothing but kill and enjoy killing!" The young cat backed down. "I want you to look out there, right now! Tell me that whatever the hell just happened wasn't complete bloody chaos!" "V - Very well sir, I apologize for questioning you." He proposed his fur on ends "Now, any able person bring these two towards the docks they must be presented directly to the Emperor. He's the only one that can deal with them." Four men cautiously grabbed Hato's binds he could see some of their hands shaking. What are the Lunarians? They couldn't be this horrifying could they? He found himself fading in and out of consciousness, one moment he was in daylight and the next He was hidden in darkness. The world rocked around him; he was on a ship ...This is one way to get to Curia... He smiled to himself before a swat came to the back of his head "Don't move." A solider hissed from above. Hato acknowledged him immediately, after-all He wasn't in much of a position to oppose him.

End of Chapter One