The Search For Kathea, A Leap Into The Forbidden Wilds

The Search For Kathea, A Leap Into The Forbidden Wilds

     "Norok, do you know the path we must take?"

     "Yes, we must seek the 'Enchanted Wood' where most new dreamers come first, from there we go to the 'Cavern of Flame' and descend until we come out at the beginning to the 'Steps of Deeper Slumber". At its bottom, we will be in the Forbidden Wilds. We must take the longer route by land and go not by the waters on the 'White Ship'."

     "Why not go by the 'White Ship', surely it would be faster?"

     "It goes by Celephaies, once a great city of light, now fallen into darkness and foulness most dire. It then goes to Dylath Leen, a port whose name is spoken with 'Evil'. Its traders sell strange gems not known to come from anywhere else within the Dreamlands."

     "Wait! These gems, are they red as rubies, that capture the gaze of those that look into them?"

     "You know of this?"

     "These traders come from Leng and have found their way even to the far-flung places of my Creation. I have seen them in the Courts of Chaos, where I helped Arioch, a Prince of the Courts, free his people from the grip of those gems. The traders were gathering the captive people and packing them as slaves into the holds of their ships. And intended to release the most horrible of curses to devour any they could not catch as they departed."

     "What did they intend, and did you stop them?"

     "They were going to release 'Fly-the-Light's' into the Courts, and yes, I led many of those not caught in the gem's web, fired the ships after freeing the people, and led the charge to destroy the traders from Leng. Such abominations do not deserve to live, carrying such terror to cover their unholy tracks."

     "This is good that you stopped them, but sure they landed elsewhere that you know not of and succeeded in their plans."

     "Likely yes, but word has spread of who they are, and what their true motives are. They will not find safe harbor even among the deepest of the dark places. For none will trust them not to do to them what they intended for the 'Courts'. Let us travel to the 'Enchanted Wood', I wish to get this done and find out what I need to know from all of this. One thing I can see for certain, there is a common thread between the Dreamlands and the Waking Worlds. What happens in one affects the other. I was told protecting the Dreamlands was the key to winning my war in the Waking Worlds. I begin to see the truth in that, even though much that was lost in the Waking Worlds, still has a presence in the Dreamlands, for better or worse."

     They gather themselves together and make their way onward to the 'Enchanted Wood'. It takes some bit of time as it passes in the Dreamlands to reach the 'Enchanted Wood'. They notice mostly calm in the land, but still a few troublesome signs that things are growing restless under the surface.

     The Wood is magnificent with tall trees of every kind imaginable. It is also alive with animals of every description. They note an azure dreambird sitting on one limb looking intently at them. Iriisii takes a moment to study this bird, determining what she thought was true, she goes closer and speaks to it.

     "Tell the one who looks through your eyes that as long as you remain neutral, you will have no trouble from me or mine. Cross me, betray me to my enemies, do anything to delay my progress to my goal, and nothing will save you from my wrath. No one who knows me here will do anything to help you, hide you, save you from me. Trust that I can do anything I say I can do. I know where I must go, and I will not be deterred or detoured from my path."

     The azure dreambird gives a loud squawk and flies off.

     "Do you think it will stop following us?"

     "No. But it will be more circumspect about it. My threat to it stands, if it tries to hinder us in any way, other than to warn us of danger, kill it."

     "Understood."

     "There is a campfire ahead, let us see who visits the Dreamlands, maybe we can offer advice as to keep them from wandering into danger."

     They reach the edge of the light cast by the campfire and Iriisii calls out, "greetings to the camp. May three travelers share your fire for a time?"

     The response returns in a cheerful voice, "of course, come and sit. We are just telling tales of our adventures to each other. Come and tell us what brings you the Enchanted Wood."

     Iriisii, Norok, and the Great Sage walk into the light and sit on a fallen log placed close to the fire. "Thank you, friends, for allowing us to share your fire. I am called Iriisii", pointing to Norok, "this is my brother, Norok", then toward the Great Sage, "this is the Sage Aquilius of Illek Vad."

     One of the men around the fire replies, "I am Tomas, once of Celephais, now I just wander around. Your brother, Norok, is of Ulthar?"

     "Yes, he is."

     "That must be quite the tale, to have acquired one of the Elders of the Cats of Ulthar as your brother! As well as traveling with a Sage of Ilek Vad as well."

     "It is indeed, I would recount it for you, but it is still unfinished as yet and I have vowed not to speak of it until it is done."

     "Ah, a quest then it is."

     "Yes, indeed. One I have been on for some time, it has taken me to many far-flung places, faced horrid creatures, made many good friends and allies."

     "Well then, rest yourself, I will not ask you to break your vow and speak of your quest, such things are sacred and not to be trifled with. My companions are Jone, Lathiue, Georg, and Danies. We were telling each other tales of our travels before retiring to sleep, and then to part ways once more in the morning light."

     "Then please continue, I would be interested in hearing of your travels."

     Each of them, tells a few tales of places they have been, the names seem to resonate within Iriisii as if she has either been there or known of them for a long time. They speak of Inqanok, with its onyx quarries, Sarkomand, empty before man first came to the Dreamlands, the mountain, Ngranek, with the faces of the Gods carved into its rock, on the isle of Oriab, and the jungles of Kled, with hidden palaces and temples, preserved and defended by spells put there by the Elder Gods, until when they would be needed once more.

     They talked long into the night of races encountered both good and evil, of Zoogs, and Gugs, Ghouls, and Moon beasts. The seldom-seen Shantak birds, whose eggs are a great delicacy, of luminous fish seen as they swim in and out of drowned cities seen in the depths of the sea when the water is clear. Of the many port cities where anything imaginable can be found in the market stalls. And of the many lost places where explorers still venture in search of gold and other riches.

     They then retire for the night, laying close to the fire, for its warmth, and the protection of its light. With the dawn's light peeking through the trees, they rise and prepare to go on their ways. Tomas, asks Iriisii where she and hers are bound if maybe he can direct them further.

Iriisii says but one word, "Kadath."

     Tomas's face falls with sadness, "I can see you will not be swayed from your steps. I pray whatever Gods steer you to such a place, watch over and protect you. It has a reputation dark and feared by all who know of it. It is said to be home to a group of Gods from one of the Waking Worlds, I know not which one. But they are in turn guarded by those Gods called the 'Outer Gods', mindless, capricious, led by the one known in the darkest circles as Nyarlathotep."

     Tomas turns his head and spits at the ground, trying to cleanse his mouth of the foul taste left there by the utterance of that name.

     "Had I known you would speak such a name as his. I would have asked you to use a false name, one of those used to describe him without naming him."

     "You know of him, then."

     "Yes, I do. Although I would prefer not to see his face once more, if I must then I must."

     "Pray tell, you have met him previously?"

     "Indeed, yet as you can see, I have lived to tell about it. Escape from him is not easy, yet it is possible. I am evidence of that as believe it or not, I have done so more than once."

     "Why seek one like him more than once if you escaped him?"

     "I did not say I sought him, but rather he sought me. And more I think would be very dangerous for you to know. Speaking his name aloud like that, I hope the 'Wood' will shield him from hearing his name spoken and thus drawing his attention. At least before I am ready for him to know of my presence here."

     "You speak as if you do not fear him? Who are you, really?"

     "That knowledge is too dangerous for you, especially if he seeks you for information concerning me. If you do not know who I am, you cannot tell him that you know me. And so, might escape his notice. Just be careful of mentioning anything around certain of those who work for him. You might know them already as traders from Dylath-Leen."

     "The ones who go with their heads wrapped by a turban cloth?"

     "Yes, they trade in gems mainly, ones like a ruby in color. Stay as far from them as you can. When you see one in a city you are in, leave at once and say nothing of where you go. They are trouble wherever they go, and people disappear. They sail upon black ships whose rowers are kept hidden and never seen. Do not let curiosity rule you to see why they are kept hidden. It will likely be the last thing you ever see."

     "I thank you for the warning, this one I will heed. I would wish you a good journey, but no journey can be good where you seek to go."

     "One last thing, Ulthar will shelter you, so too, will Ilek Vad, there are likely some others as well, stay to the bigger cities with a good reputation, you will be safer there. If you do go to Ilek Vad, mention me to the gatekeeper, tell him you are my friend, and to take care of you for me. I would see that he is rewarded for it. Should you find yourself being chased and you are near Ilek Vad, look for a tall gray tower with a deep violet blossom at the top. Go inside and make yourself at home, it will protect you from the darker minions."

     "Thank you so very much", as Tomas bows to Iriisii, "may the luck of the Gods walk with you."

     Iriisii and company continue on to the 'Caverns of Flame', asking the Great Sage, "when did the Enchanted Wood become accessible from all other areas of the Dreamlands?"

     "It is complicated, yes, it does tie all of the areas together but once you enter, you can only leave to the Cavern of Flame and on to the Steps of Deeper Slumber. Once there you can either proceed to wherever you intend to go or if you should wake, you will find yourself back in the Waking World. You as a Goddess, have more control over such things. If you wake from 'Deeper Slumber', you can control wherein the Waking World you wish to return to. But you still cannot appear anywhere you wish in the Dreamlands, at least not until you have first visited it. Once you have been somewhere in the Dreamlands, you can return to that place, when returning to the Dreamlands from the Waking World."

     "I see. At least time still moves differently, so even if I spend months here in the Dreamlands, only hours elapse in the Waking World."

     "I do believe that is the case."

     They make their way through the Cavern of Flame, they see the evidence consisting of Altars of Worship, to what Gods no one is still here to say. There are doors carved into the sides of the Cavern, perhaps they lead to Temples further away down dark corridors. At least the place is empty, no sign of anyone having been here except to walk straight through and out the far end, not in a very long time. Until she senses more than hears a distant whisper, "return when you have finished what you came here for. You will have need of a warrior, exceeding all others, one who fear has never touched, one who can, at last, reach the heights of what it means to be a warrior born.

     Return and we will bring him here to meet with you, if you approve, we will train him, teach him, make him to be what only he can be. And what you will need when you face the Darkness that lies within the deepest part of the central void. 'He' still wants you, more now than ever before. 'He' has come to know desires that 'He' has never before given thought to, and those thoughts seek you as they take life and form, to draw you to 'Him'. Some mistakenly believe 'Him' to be one of the Great Old Ones, do not fall for this untruth. 'He' is older and more than they will ever be. We will not speak 'His' name, you know it already. Walk carefully as you go forth into the Wildlands."

     "My Sister, what did you hear? Who spoke to you in the barest of whispers?"

     "Did you hear any of it, my brother?"

     "No, but I could see something happening, you stopped still, and sometimes your lips would move as if you wished to speak, but no voice came forth."

     "Something tied to this place spoke to me." She relates what was said to both of them, even as she sees the face of the Great Sage go pale. "You know who they speak of?"

     "And they said you know as well."

     "Yes, I do, and like them, I will not utter his name in this place, not without the strongest arcane protections I can place to ward us."

     "That confirms for me who it is, if 'He' is hunting you this has gone beyond serious."

     "And something makes me think that the dream I had for me to find the 'Knights of Silence', to press them into my service, is tied to the words of this whisper. More threads are weaving their way into this Tapestry, and I am not sure I like what it will show."

     "Who is this 'He' that hunts my 'Sister'! I will sink my claws and teeth into his neck."

     "No, my brother. 'He' is too powerful, and it will take the strongest of allies to deal with 'Him', if 'He' can be dealt with in any meaningful way. Maybe the best we can hope for is to bring our battle to a stalemate, neither able to completely win nor lose. We shall just have to go on and see what we must do."

     They keep going onward through the Caverns, on to the Steps of Deeper Slumber. The 'Steps' are wide, nearly a hundred yards wide, and a thousand steps down. They take their time, walking down at a pace that will not draw undue attention. They see other dreamers walking down, but they make no move to greet, or otherwise talk. They may be thought aloof, but it is for the protection of all others they meet.

     Once at the bottom, Iriisii asks where the closest town with an Inn is so that they can rest and plan the next stage. Norok points toward where a small town is close by, with a good reputation for visitors. An hour more walking and they come up to the gate, people are still coming and going, so they simply give their names to the guard and say they wish to stay the night before traveling on. When asked their final destination, Iriisii says, 'Celephais'. We are meeting family coming by boat across the sea. The guard doesn't give them a second glance, if a 'Cat' of Ulthar is with them, they are good people. For it is well known what happens to those who harm the 'Cats' of Ulthar. He gives them directions to the Inn and tells them to mention his name to the innkeeper. That would ensure that they are well looked after.

     After finding the Inn, walking in with a full-grown tiger draws a lot of attention, yet it calms down after he seems to be completely compliant with Iriisii's commands. They find a table off in a corner and the Innkeeper comes with them, looking hesitantly at Norok.

     "Say nothing to anyone else, but he is an Elder of the Cats of Ulthar, and my brother by the Binding of Blood Ritual. His name is Norok, mine is Iriisii, and my other companion is a Sage of Ilek Vad, just refer to him as Sage, if you do not mind."

     "Of course, what can I do for you this fine evening."

     "We require some supper first, then a room for the night large enough to accommodate the three of us."

     "I have one available, you will have some supper as soon as I can get it to you. It will be five gold for both."

     Iriisii hands over the gold pieces.

     "Thank you, my lady."

     "You seem a bit preoccupied, may I ask as to the cause?"

     "It is nothing, my lady. A personal matter."

     A woman rushes out of the backroom, "Silas come quick, she worsens."

     As the Innkeeper turns to go to the backroom, the Great Sage speaks.

     "Innkeeper, my companion is a powerful healer. Please let her look at whoever needs help."

     "It is my daughter, she took ill suddenly earlier today and has not improved at all with herbal remedies from the Wise Woman. If there is anything you can do, please help me."

     Iriisii rises and moves to the backroom, "Norok, guard the doorway, let no one else enter. Innkeeper, we must hurry, time is of the essence."

     Silas shows Iriisii to his daughter in the back room. His wife rises as they enter.

     "Who is this? Why did you bring her?"

     "The Sage says she is a powerful healer and she came without question. You know the herbalist has failed, I am willing to try anyone to save our daughter!"

     "Forgive me, I am distraught over my Windy!"

     "There is nothing to forgive, I would feel the same concerning any of my own."

     "You have children?"

     "Yes, three daughters and two sons, now let me see your daughter."

     "Here!" As Silas' wife shows her to the small bed the child is laying in.

     "How long has she been this way?" As Iriisii extends her senses to see what is ailing the child.

     "Not long, only a few hours since she came inside from playing behind the Inn, near the barn and stables."

     It does not take Iriisii long to ascertain the child has been poisoned, not deliberately, but likely got into it as it was set out for another reason.

     "Do you use poison for rats and other vermin near the barn and stables?"

     "No, there are a good number of cats about who keeps the vermin cleared."

     "Anyone who has shown a distinct dislike for the cats?"

     "I cannot think of anyone, Silas?"

     "Yes, there is one I have heard on occasion speak ill of them. A grumpy middle-aged man goes by the name of, Rastin."

     "Your daughter has a taken a poison set out for the cats. I need to look in the barn and stables to see if I can determine what poison was used and make an antidote."

     "Come with me, out the back door, quickly."

     They go out to the stables first but see no sign of anything that the poison could have been mixed with to entice the cats to consume it. Then they go to the barn, there is where they see a large shallow bowl still filled with a mixture of milk and cream, likely fresh from the cow. As Iriisii approaches, she smells a faint odor from the bowl that is different from the odor of fresh cow's milk. She follows it until she sees a small amount that must have fallen out of whatever was used to bring it in here.

     She takes a very small amount on her fingertip and places it on her tongue. Quickly she spits it out as she recognizes it.

     "I need to see your herbalist, quickly. There is not much time. Luckily she only got a small amount or it would already be too late."

     Silas takes her around the side and down the street to the herbalist shop. Banging on the door until the herbalist opens it.

     Iriisii places a hand against Silas' chest, "let me speak to her."

     "Mother, I have need of your stock to make an antidote for poison. I have gold to pay you for the herbs."

     "The poisoned one is Silas' daughter?"

     "Yes."

     Opening her door fully, "please take what you need and hurry. I did not suspect poison at all. Not in this town anyway."

     "She did not get much, not enough to even smell on her breath or you would have known. I recognized the signs on her body, and found the poison in the barn, where it was put to poison the cats."

     The Wise Woman makes a sign to ward off evil, "the cats you say. Foul business to harm cats since what happened in Ulthar."

     As Iriisii has assembled the herbs she needs and is mixing them with a mortar and pestle, "indeed, someone will pay dearly for this. Had they succeeded, it would put the entire town in danger."

     The Wise Woman looks at Iriisii with new respect as it becomes apparent she knows much of the lore of the Dreamlands, "I have some water boiling for tea. Here use it for the antidote, I also have cheesecloth to strain it with."

     "Thank you, that will help greatly." Iriisii puts the mashed-up herbs in the cheesecloth and pours the hot water over them into a small container. Squeezing the last few drops, she picks up the container, "I will leave some gold with Silas for you, to cover the cost of what I have used, and once again, thank you."

     "I should thank you for saving his daughter when I failed. Thank the Gods you were here to right my wrongs."

     "Mother, none of us are perfect, not even the Gods, even though they may not admit to it."

     "Enough banter, go daughter, you have a young girl's life to save."

     They run back around to the rear door as Iriisii hears, "Quickly please, her breath is becoming labored."

     Iriisii goes to the little girl, places a hand to raise her up to drink the antidote. Once it is all gone, she lays the girl back down and says to Silas and his wife, "say nothing of what you see next. There are those I would not have known I am here."

     And she places a hand on the girl's forehead and her other hand over her heart. She quietly whispers a spell to strengthen the girl's body and will to live. She then utters another somewhat darker spell, one that borrows a little from necromancy. She then takes a fingernail that she sharpens and makes a small incision on the girl's arm. Almost immediately a foul odor slips from the cut, and a whitish fluid begins to ooze out. Iriisii collects it in the container that held the antidote. Once no more would leave her body, Iriisii seals the cut with a little power as she runs a fingertip along its length.

     "Done, she will be fine now. The greater part of the poison has been removed, the antidote will take care of what little remains inside her."

     "Look, she is waking up!"

     The little girl is still groggy and disoriented, but hears her mother's and father's voices and relaxes.

     "How can we ever repay you!?"

     "There is no need, saving her life is repayment enough."

     "But surely there is something?"

     "The one you call, Rastin, has a price that must be paid, tonight! I must see if any cats were affected by the poison before they decide to take matters in their own paws. Please ask Norok to join me here and we will see what can be done."

     "At once." And goes out into the common room to look for Norok. Iriisii looks at the little girl. "Child, you have had a brush with dire misfortune, but will come through this unscathed. Rest for a few days, and do not go out until you feel better. Henceforth, please be more careful about sharing the milk and cream with the cats."

     She sleepily replies, "I will", and drops off into sleep. Iriisii looks at the girl's mother, "she will be just fine, keep her inside for a few days. If she is hungry, give her fresh bread, dipped in water, after a day, you can give her broth. After two days she should be able to eat and drink normally."

     "I praise all the Gods that you were here, thank you!"

     Iriisii gives her some gold coins, "for the Wise Woman, to pay for what I used to make the antidote."

     "I will see she gets it, do not worry."

     Silas and Norok come into the backroom. Norok, mind speaks with her, "the little one will be all right?"

     "Yes, I got to her in time. But the poison was put out for the cats. I need you to find them, that we can see if any took the poison and do what we can to help. Then the one who did this must pay the price for what he did."

     "Let us go then, I know where to look for the cats."

     Iriisii stands and tells Silas and his wife, "close up early and send everyone home. Or if you can keep them here until morning, 'Death' will lead the 'Wild Hunt' as they ride the streets this night and the innocent should stay indoors so as not to get swept up with the guilty. Justice must be done in the old ways to serve as a reminder of what has gone before. Whatever you hear, do not open your doors or windows, you will not want to see what rides the night."

     "Who or what are you, to know these things?"

     "One who cares for all of you who are innocent, more than that, you may one day come to know, but until then it is better you do not know. Come too, my brother, we hunt this night."

     The two of them step outside, Norok gets his bearings on where he wants to go first to look for the cats. It is not too far, and they are there in just a few minutes' run. There are signs of a small gathering that had been there but is now gone.

     "They are gathering all the clans, this is bad."

     "They mean to destroy the entire town, an important cat must have been either damaged or near-death by the poison."

     "I agree, we must find them before they set out on revenge. Maybe you can do something to calm them."

     "We can only hope."

     "Believe in yourself as I have come to believe in you, and you will find a way. But first, we must find them before you can work your magic."

     They locate and examine two more sites further away and still no major gathering.

     "There is only one last place, and this will be tricky getting into."

     "I take it to be possibly a Temple to a Deity?"

     "Yes, Bastis, by name, Goddess of Cats."

     "Then let us go, but first, will our being blood bound help or hurt our cause?"

     "Truthfully, I do not know. I have never heard of this happening before, although there are stories of it happening in the early dawn of the dreamlands."

     "I guess we will just have to see which way it goes, then. When we get there, let me take the lead. I like to make a grand entrance."

     "What do you have in mind?"

     "Is this Temple large in size? Large enough that a dragon might enter?"

     "A dragon? Possible, the main area is open to the skies, so if you dropped in that way, yes, it would work."

     "Could you hold on if you were on my back?"

     "You mean to fly in with me as a 'Dragonrider' of old? That would set a stage for certain, no way they could ignore you after a display like that."

     "Then let us do it. We can make better time flying anyway."

     Iriisii morphs, Norok climbs up and settles down behind her head. She then leaps into the air, her wings biting the drafts, sending them soaring in seconds. From the overhead view, she spots where she thinks the Temple is and Norok agrees. It only takes a few minutes to glide down as she uses some magic to land light as a feather, not wanting to further frighten the cats with the ground shaking. She also thought it more respectful to Bastis not to shake her Temple to pieces.

     Norok dismounts and strides to the Elder he recognizes.

     "Elder Kinhue."

     "No longer is this one known by that name. This one has been gifted with a new name by one greater than any this one has until now known. This one is now called Norokdovahdilos, call this one, Elder Norok."

     "Elder Norok."

     "A kitten took the poison?"

     "How did you know of this?"

     "A human child also took the poison."

     "It seems to always be the little ones who suffer and die."

     "How long ago did the little one pass?"

     "Does it really matter?"

     "Yes, more than you know."

     "An hour ago as the sun sets."

     "Then there is still time."

     "Did you not hear this one?! The kitten has passed, it was too late for the Goddess Bastis to help."

     "The Goddess Bastis is not the only Goddess."

     "Who else would help cats?!"

     "I would."

     "Elder Kinhue, this one is honored above all others to introduce his 'sister' by the Ritual of Blood Binding. She is the Elder Goddess Iriisii Dovahkin, Mother of Dragons and Dovahne Hahnu, Daughter and Heir to the Mother of the Cosmos."

     Elder Kinhue is shocked to speechlessness, an Elder Goddess of such stature to take an interest in the cats of the Dreamlands. If it was not for that she took Elder Norok as her 'brother' by Blood Binding, he would say they were lying. "Please tell me what you can do for the poisoned one."

     "Bring the body to me, if the soul is still here, I can rejoin them once the poison has been cleansed."

     Elder Kinhue calls for the poisoned body of the kitten to be brought to the visitors. They have no idea of why he wants this but they obey. As the body is brought to her, she sees the soul hovering over it, not knowing what happened or what is going on.

     "Come to this one, little one, let this one shelter you for a bit." As the soul moves toward her and enters her sphere of power, those watching close by see the soul flicker into their sight and watch as it slips gently into her body. She then extends her arms and hands, gently, lovingly picks up the still form of the kitten. Her tears shed and fall upon the furry body, she then raises it up into the sky, as a narrow shaft of light comes down from the stars and bathes the kitten's body.

     Those nearby see ribbons of color, slide out from her body and envelope the kitten. At first, nothing can be seen to happen, then they notice the color leaving the kitten is different than the color entering. This keeps up until the color leaving is the same as the color entering once again. She whispers to the little soul within her, 'are you ready to return? The poison has been cleansed and is ready for your return.

     They see the flickering soul leave Iriisii and move back into the kitten's body. Iriisii then intones, "daal nu wa lahney ont more, kos wo hi ont lost ko laas, ful zulle faal Dovahkiin." The limbs of the kitten start to jerk and move, Elder Kinhue is amazed by this. Slowly Iriisii moves her hands gently over the kitten, helping it to roll onto its paws, in her hands. Then it stands, looks about, and seeing the Elder Kinhue, voices a soft meow.

     "This one does not know how you did this, but he thanks you with all of his heart."

     "Justice still calls for the one who did this."

     "We were going to level the entire town, leave it a smoking ruin as an example of what happens when one kills a cat of Ulthar."

     "And damn yourselves in the doing for the innocent lives taken."

     "What else can be done? The human cannot be allowed to go unpunished."

     "And so he will not go unpunished! But the 'Mother of Dragons' is right. If you had done as you wished, I would have had no choice but to turn my back to you."

     "Mother Bastis?"

     "Yes, my son. It is I. The 'Mother of Dragons' has done what I could not do, and so has earned the name, 'Mother of All Cats'. Listen to her, and she will guide you in taking justice of the one who did this in a way that will not damn you all for eternity." Bastis looks to Iriisii, "this Temple is now yours, as are my children."

     "No, I can not stay, and they deserve someone to watch over them, in love and compassion. Stay and take care of them as my emissary, for my place is far above and they will need someone to help guide them close to home."

     "You mean this?"

     "Yes, I do. When I take the 'Mantle of the Mother', your place will be secure and will not change, this I promise you."

     "Bastis lowers her head, "then I accept your offer. What will you do to bring Justice to the poisoner?"

     "He will know the fury of the 'Wild Hunt', and all of the other humans will hear his screams and the 'Call of the Hunt'. This night will be remembered for a very long time."