Chapter 3

 

            Both siblings slept through an uneventful night and woke up early in the morning. Knowing the Fallen was in the swamp with them helped their quest but did less for their nerves. Shustim was on edge though he tried to hide it with his sense of humor. Tamaila was worried enough to forget to scold him for the particular jokes a boy his age shouldn’t know. The swamp made progress slow and fur covered skin hot so breaks became more and more frequent. At about noon when they were eating lunch, Shustim stopped and starred at something just beyond Tamaila’s shoulder. Tamaila slowly moved one hand to her sword following his gaze with her mind’s eye. She jumped and turned with a war cry and her sword ready. Rather then a Fallen set to spring Tamaila came face to face with the oddest creature she had seen.

            The thing looked like a brown monkey but its tail had a three-fingered hand on the end and its head was shaped like a squashed triangle with its chin at one point. Its eyes were large ovals of a sparkling blue color and its mouth was a round brown circle of skin with a set of flat puckered lips.

            Tamaila stood perfectly still and watched the creature with a worried expression. Shustim came up and tugged Tamaila’s skirt from behind. Tamaila screamed.

            The monkey thing scrambled into the tree and hid behind the trunk, peeking around with one large eye. Tamaila panted and turned to face a bewildered Shustim.

            “What is it, Shustim?”

            “Its a Jyu-ju, they were in papa’s stories. I never though I would see one this close though.” Tamaila looked back at the Jyu-ju as is slowly crept out onto a branch at Tamaila’s face level. It moved on all fives, its tail seemed to be more like a long flexible leg from how the Jyu-ju used it. Tamaila kept calm, knowing what to expect helped considerably. Shustim held up some of his dried fruit to the Jyu-ju though he was short of it by over a foot. The Jyu-ju opened its mouth and shot out its tongue pulling the fruit into its round mouth quickly. Tamaila blinked at the whole display not sure what to make of a thing that ate its meals from a distance. Shustim held up another piece letting the Jyu-ju snatch that too.

            “I think it likes me Tam.” Tamaila put her sword away and ruffled Shustim’s hair before sitting back down.

            “I think it likes your food, don’t feed it too much or it might invite its buddies. Besides you don’t know how long we’ll be out here before the next town.” Shustim sighed and put his food away in the pack. The Jyu-ju watched them from the trees as they packed up and moved on into the swamp. Shustim looked back and waved at the Jyu-ju as it left.

            It was almost dark when Shustim came to a sudden halt. Not far ahead the Fallen stood though its sword was not drawn as of yet. In fact it had its back to them showing the feared red claw mark. Tamaila noticed it didn’t seem to have a tail, making the mysterious enemy’s race that much harder to place. It jumped straight up and caught a branch. Shustim and Tamaila silently drew their own weapons and began to shadow the thing from a good distance. It led them on through the night looking about as though it were searching for something, or someone. Shustim and Tamaila were always right behind it ducking in bushes or behind trees, anywhere would do. The creature continued to move onward through the lower canopy of the swamp in its search. Eventually they lost sight of it well after the sun had gone down. They had been tracking by feline night vision alone.

            “Ok where did it get to now?” Shustim looked about not sure how to answer his sister.

            “Try over here,” an otherworldly voice suggested. Both felines spun about with their blades ready, the Fallen stood with its legs together and arms crossed over its black chest. From their angle the Fallen seemed like a piece of darker night detached and living. All three stood silently facing one another, waiting for the next move. It was the Fallen who struck first and in a way neither brother nor sister had expected.

            “You’ve taken great pains to follow me so I thought we could make a little game out of this. I’m going towards the Dawn Bay. You can go there or try to follow me on your own. Just incase you didn’t catch on before I’ve been letting you follow me. The powers of darkness favor me at this hour so accept your gift and try to keep up, fighting would be disastrous for you.” Shustim looked up to his sister’s determined face finding reassurance there.

            “Why are you just handing out clues for us? Why not try to kill us now?” Tamaila faced the creature with courage Shustim didn’t understand. He figured she must have been mad at the Fallen getting a look at her in the last fight.

            “Take it or leave it. The Dawn Bay in one week or you’ll miss me and have to figure out where I went next.” With that the Fallen seemed to blur upwards then vanish. Shustim and Tamaila looked around desperately for an ambush from above but the thing had left them. In another moment they realized how lost they had become in following the Fallen. Tamaila cursed their stupidity and Shustim climbed a tree hoping he could see something to help them.

            “Hey Tam? I can see trees ahead. The kind we lived by in the cottage. I think it led us out of the swamp.” Tamaila muttered something Shustim didn’t quite catch as he dismounted the tree. They moved through the swamp careful of the sinking sands and the Fallen though no sign of the later was present. A large pool of the sinking sands halted their progress. It was too wide to traverse by treetop and it seemed that they were on a peninsula. Tamaila sighed as they began to back track. Both turned around just in time to see the path back collapse into the sands, leaving them trapped on an island. Something shifted under the sands looking like a small island coming up then sinking. Shustim and Tamaila stood back to back with their blades drawn and packs set aside. All was quiet, even the normal bird sounds had silenced.

            The thing rose up from the sinking sands, muck pouring off its body as the creature stood up. It had a hard shell like a bug and two arms that ended in three fingered hands with claws. It had a large number of eyes but Shustim could only guess at their number because each eye waved in the air on a stalk. The thing seemed to be waist deep in the sands as it bent over for a meal, its insect-like mouth grinded in anticipation.

 

            The Fallen watched its prey as they battled the swamp’s guardian though the Fallen was safely on the other side of the sinking sands. If they survived somehow then the game would continue. If the guardian won out then that would be two less problems for the Fallen. It still remembered the lucky hit that female had gotten on it. No one was to strike a Fallen like that. It was of little consequence though; so far the guardian had a perfect fighting record.

 

            Shustim rolled to the side as the thing’s claw slammed into the ground where he had been. The island allowed some room for dodging but not much. Tamaila slashed at one of the creature’s arms but her sword only rang off its armored carapace.

            “Where is its weak point?” Shustim called out slashing at its hand as he jumped to the side of another slash. Tamaila jumped forewords trying to stab her blade into the thing’s underbelly in hopes of working the steel between its armored plates. The creature gave a fierce roar and snatched Tamaila up in one claw. She screamed furiously striking blow after blow on its wrist with no effect. Shustim looked around trying to think of a plan or find something he could use as the monster lifted his sister up to its jaws.

            Tamaila thought of a plan first. Just as the creature had her within range for a bite she struck with her sword, embedding the blade into the creature’s mouth. The monster howled in agony letting go of Tamaila. Tamaila hung on for dear life as the thing pitched and rolled screaming, the blade her only means of staying out of the sinking sands. The creature fell onto its back silent except for the large splash of muck. Shustim wasted no time; grabbing both packs he leaped onto the belly of the beast and ran at a full sprint even as it sank. Tamaila saw him coming, recovered her sword, and ran down one arm of the monster to safety on the other side. Shustim was close behind and both siblings collapsed on the ground panting as the monster sank back into its home.

 

            The Fallen was amused. Even it thought twice about confronting the swamp’s guardian. These two would bring its finest hour when they fell to its blade. The reward would undoubtedly be enormous for the spoils it could extract from such a fight. The black figure moved swiftly through the trees as there were things to prepare.

 

            Shustim and Tamaila emerged from the forest a few days later, ragged and worn. Much to their surprise the grass ended about a hundred feet off in dead stone. The stone slopped down into a large bowl form holding a great bay. The lands along the sea on the far side were tall cliffs that seemed to reach for the heavens. What caught both their breath was a city carved into the steep slopes of the bay opposite of the only opening in the cliff wall. The city was all light brown stone like the slopes but they could make out white tiled streets. As the two walked closer more details came to them. The buildings were built in an intricate maze of waterfalls and canals with some rooftops being used to hold the water. Streets were made for walking not carts as they were paved in gleaming white tiles. At the highest point of the city sprang a white marble temple from which the water seemed to come from.

            Shustim and Tamaila reached the outer limit of the city, a boarder defined by a steep running river of water. Bridges could bee seen over the rush but they were made of stone and a few inches under the water. Tamaila lifted her skirts to keep her last change of clothes dry but Shustim sprinted through sending up walls of water to either side of his course, soaking Tamaila in the process. Tamaila screamed something at him as he passed then ran after the little monster, determined to dunk his head until he was sorry.

            Both came to a halt as soon as they saw the inhabitants of the city. Granted there were some furrys like themselves there but the majority of the citizens were very unique. Human based in appearance, humans were the stuff of legends even then, their skin was a pale moon yellow and their hair was various shades of an almost white green. Their hands all had green webbing and their tails were long and flexible like a lizard. The ones swimming in the canals had bright red fins where their calves and feet might have been. The ones on land had somewhat normal legs though Shustim could swear he saw something that looked like it folded out. Their ears looked like they had been pulled back and out to the sides into the shape of thin dirks and seemed to move in expressive ways. The males had a large red blotch on their back with a purple clone of the marking on the inside while the females were pink and blue respectively. What really made them stand out was their total lack of clothing.

            Tamaila covered Shustim’s eyes despite his protests and the fact that she herself was staring a bit at the men trying to find where their genitals were. The only thing that would stop their gawking was a voice behind them. They jumped around facing a young male about Tamaila’s height holding a circular metal ring by the bar running the diameter. The outside looked very sharp.

            “I said welcome,” repeated the male with a smile, “Your first time in the city of Dawn Bay I take it?” Tamaila and Shustim came to their senses.

            “Hello, we just arrived and were looking for an inn to stay in. Can you direct us to one?” Shustim snickered slightly at Tamaila’s recovery, her eyes looked ready to pop.

            “Certainly, please follow me and I’ll get you to one you should be comfortable with.” Tamaila stared after him until Shustim tugged her hand. The male introduced himself as Kuni, a Greeter of the city. It seemed he was a living directory for first time visitors. Kuni pointed out various sights along the way; the city’s best tavern, the black smith, a place you could buy crystallized wind charms. Furrys became more numerous as they finally reached what Kuni called the Visitor’s Plaza. It was built much like the city Tamaila and Shustim had grown up with but the green of plants and the white tiling made it more beautiful to look at than most furry built towns.

            “Hey Kuni, what are you exactly?” Tamaila gave Shustim a look that made him want to take it back but Kuni just laughed.

            “I hear that every time. We call ourselves the Shunekai.” Shustim was delighted.

            “Wow I met a real Shunekai. I bet Papa never did. They were never in any of his stories about the war with the Fallen.”

            “We weren’t heavily involved in that. The water of the city keeps the Fallen out and we’ve never been good about maintaining much of an army. All we could do was offer sanctuary to travelers then.” Tamaila pinched Shustim’s muzzle shut with a thumb and forefinger before returning her attention to Kuni.

            “How is it possible that the water does that?” Kuni led them into a large two-story tavern and sat everyone down at a table near the hearth. Although most of the patrons here were furry a good number were Shunekai as well.

            “Ah that is a story we enjoy telling the most. If you’re not in a hurry I could relate it to you?” Before Tamaila should answer Shustim knocked her hand away and answered for her.

            “Yeah we got lots of time. Tell me please? Please?” Kuni chuckled and Tamaila let Shustim get away with it. They weren’t in much of a hurry after all.

            “It begins long before the city was built. We lived on the other side of the cliffs in the ocean. The water was warm and there was a small beach along which we could come to the surface to enjoy the sun. As the legend goes though, we became sad thinking we were alone in the world. The cliffs were too steep to climb and no one who left to swim around them ever returned leaving us to fear the worst. Our cries to the Dragon were one day answered and a fire fell from the stars. The explosion was tremendous leaving what is now the Dawn Bay. The city was far enough from the impact to be saved but now that the dragon had opened the way we eagerly explored. The only thing found in the center of the crater was a golden orb the size of a curled Shunekai. It radiated a holy power we hardly understood but took to be a gift from the Dragon. The city was built over an underground spring that we redirected to flow up into the floor of the temple at the top of the city. As water bubbled up though it was brackish and foul to the taste but otherwise usable. One day someone got the idea to try using the Dragon’s gift to cleanse all the water. So the orb was set in the fountain so that as water came up the orb spun in its currents, cleansing the water. It wasn’t until the war with the Fallen that we realized the water caused them to burst into white flames and die forever. Since then the city has been protected by the power of the Dragon’s gift.” All three sat in silence. Shustim looked like he had been handed the Dragon’s gift while Tamaila was thoughtful.

            “So none of the Fallen can enter this city ever?” Kuni nodded.

            “That would be correct, Tamaila. You saw how the bridges to the outside had been modified to ensure such. I think visitors find it comforting that the city is watched over, in a way, by the Dragon.” Shustim continued to sit in awe of the Shunekai’s stories. Kuni went to the bar of the tavern for drinks leaving Tamaila and Shustim to themselves for the moment.

            “Shustim I think we should leave,” Tamaila said in low tones. There was no need to bring the wrath of misunderstanding furries down on them.

            “Why is that? It said, ‘I’m going to the Dawn Bay’ right?” Tamaila smirked at Shustim’s imitation of that otherworldly voice.

            “If Fallen can’t enter the city then how could it meet us here? I think we should leave but stay close enough to retreat here if things go bad.” Shustim mulled this over as Kuni returned with three servings of the house special, tea with a name too hard for Shustim to pronounce.

            “So would you two like to see about getting a room? I know a few different inns here that should be comfortable depending on how much you’re willing to pay.” Shustim wrinkled his face at the all too strong tea. Tamaila politely sipped and was glad she couldn’t remember the name to order more.

            “Actually we’ll be leaving to hit the road. We just wanted to stop for some rest and see who built this place, I thank you for your hospitality, Kuni.” Kuni stopped with his own tea nearly raised to his lip then set it down.

            “Leaving? There isn’t much outside the city except rock. You’d really be better off staying at an inn. If money is an issue I can find you something very affordable and still comfortable.” Tamaila shook her head and wound up to explain a lie when someone outside screamed. The scream was lost in a thousand shouts and cries. Kuni leapt up from the table grabbing his weapon with Shustim and Tamaila in hot pursuit. They had to fight through crowds though Kuni’s government job gave him some space to move through. Although Tamaila and Shustim were close behind him Kuni still got first sight of the problem. The canals were running black.

            Shunekai frantically tired to swim ahead of the mess or escape onto the streets altogether but the blackness was rapidly filling the canals. Many Shunekai made it to safety though a few felt the blackness wash over their legs or a foot. The unlucky ones cried of burning while the unluckier still were washed away silently.

            “What is that?” Shustim asked looking about as people backed away from the canals quickly. Kuni looked at the victims wide-eyed and silent for a long moment.

            “I honestly don’t know. The water was never this bad even before we placed the Dragon’s gift in it.” Tamaila gripped her still sheathed sword tight. Eventually healers came to help the wounded away from the canals though even some of the escapees were too far-gone.

            “I think we better get to that temple Shustim, now!” Shustim nodded and took off for the temple with Tamaila. Kuni took a moment to come back to reality then ran after them shouting they were too fast. Despite his claims Kuni eventually caught up.

            “You know what’s going on here don’t you?” Tamaila shook her head.

            “I don’t know what happened but I have a rough idea. We were trailing a Fallen in the swamp near here. It told us to come here if we wanted to keep following it. I think this might be its calling card that we guessed right.” Kuni looked shocked then determined.

            “If Fallen have found a way to breach the canals then I want to know how. I’m coming with you two.” Shustim nodded but Tamaila had to argue it.

            “Have you ever fought before? This thing’s immortal practically. If you come if might kill you.” Kuni laughed regaining his smile.

            “I can fight well enough, besides you’re both going the wrong way. Turn right here and we’ll get there faster.”

 

            The Dragon’s gift was rolled to the back with ropes by half-a-dozen Fallen as one oversaw the whole production. A black obsidian orb spun on the fountain where the golden one had been before. Five figures in black robes trimmed with deep purple chanted and traced runes in the air. Their black powers formed a hex in the air using each figure as a point. Black water spilled over the feet of the Fallen overseeing the whole project. It wasn’t red with blood but this was good enough. Soon the two it had taken an interest in would arrive and the game would go on.

 

            Ranks of the Shunekai stood around the face of the temple facing the bay. A black canal ran around the temple wider than the one that protected the city. No one was going in or out. Kuni stood at the edge of the tainted water kneeling while Tamaila and Shustim stood just behind thinking.

            “We need a way to block the water or something,” Tamaila said for the fifth time.

            “I’d rather know how those vile things made it into the temple at all. There simply isn’t any way to do it.” Shustim frowned keeping silent. They couldn’t go through the water and the ground under was solid rock.

            “Hey I got an idea.” Tamaila and Kuni turned to Shustim.

 

            One of the Fallen reported to the overseer Fallen, “Sir, they are here and they have found a way to cross.” The leader turned around to where its subordinate was pointing. The two from the swamp were crossing a bridge on stilts. It seemed there was a Shunekai with them too and the Shunekai on the other side were working fast to create similar modes of transportation. Clever still not enough, the Fallen would gain the city denied them before.

 

            “Not bad, little monster.” Tamaila smiled ahead to Shustim as the three crossed on stilts made from ‘borrowed’ ladders.

            “Thanks, sis. I just remembered the time I tried to put the stools in the trees before building a tree house.” Kuni pressed on with a look that could have struck the Fallen dead. Tamaila was happy to have his help even if the rest of the Shunekai defenses were ready to cross in a few minutes. She could still feel the Fallen holding her from the last fight and it made her shiver inwardly. They reached the other side and could see what the problem was. Five figures were channeling power into a new black orb in the central fountain. A sharp command from the Fallen standing in the black waters brought six other Fallen up ready to battle.

            Its unholy voice made Tamaila’s tail fur stand on end. “Welcome to my new temple. Indeed soon my new city. Eventually the stones will soak in the taint and burn you as well. I think I will start sacrificing lives here to my little ball of poison. I’ll start with you.” The six Fallen moved forewords forming a ring around the three would-be heroes and began circling. Shustim and Tamaila drew their blades while Kuni crouched for battle. As if by one mind all six leapt at once flying through the air with their own swords ready.

            “Tuck and roll!” Tamaila shouted. All three rolled out under the Fallen as they collided. Four got up as the other two collapsed on themselves. One had to pull a sword out of its shoulder though. Kuni leaped forewords low to the ground and slashed up at the nearest Fallen’s chest with his weapon. The Fallen stumbled back with an eerie blue light shinning out from the wound. Shustim slashed at the arms of one Fallen trying to capitalize on Kuni’s turned back, the thing’s fore arms fell off easily in a cloud of gray dust. Tamaila was losing ground to the remaining two as their two blades moved like lightning against her one. Kuni moved to the side of his Fallen’s overhead swing then drove his weapon deep into the wound in its chest. A sound like glass shattering was the only warning before the Fallen collapsed into a pile of dust and black rags.

            “Their chest has something in it! Break that to kill them!” Shustim took full advantage of that warning and stabbed his through the chest, its lack of arms making blocking impossible. It collapsed into dust leaving its shirt on Shustim’s blade. Tamaila snarled as the Fallen forced her back gleefully. She was only a few steps away from the deep part of the canal. Kuni threw his weapon with incredible strength, the circular blade embedded into one Fallen’s claw logo but it was still moving, turning to face Kuni and Shustim in particular. A well-aimed blow from the Fallen cast Tamaila’s blade aside. She though she heard laughter as it raised its sword to her throat.

            “Hey you!” The Fallen turned around just as Shustim leaped for its face. The Fallen tried to bring its sword to bear on the young panther but was too slow. Tamaila dived for her sword as the Fallen fell on its back where she had been. Shustim sprang back into a flip and landed away from the Fallen. Before it could get up Tamaila drove the sword into its chest, a shattering later the Fallen was dust. They smiled then turned to watch Kuni. Him and the Fallen were disarmed as they fought with a dazzling display of hand-to-hand techniques. The apparent leader of the Fallen stalked towards the two fighters at its leisure. Shustim picked up Kuni’s blade circle from one pile then hurled it at Kuni’s Fallen.

            “Kuni heads up!” Tamaila was on the move before Shustim’s warning was quite done. Kuni kicked the Fallen hard with a cracking noise as the Shunekai’s weapon pierced it in the side. The Fallen collapsed into dust. Tamaila’s blade met with the last Fallen’s blade saving Kuni from a killing blow. Kuni spun around and kicked the Fallen in the head knocking its cloth mask off. The Fallen was already dead!

            Its face was that of an old dusty corpse, a feline corpse in fact. It gave then a wicked smile made all the more terrifying by patches where wrinkled gray skin was missing.

            “I see you have a new ally. You’re going to need him if you plan to stop the death of the living.” Tamaila growled low getting ready to pounce as Shustim drew by her side. The Fallen leaped back with its apparent undead strength and landed on the black orb. The five figures changed their chanting as all six faded out. The Fallen’s voice called out even as it faded.

            “Follow me to the Crystal Sands desert if you can. I await the challenge.”

            Tamaila smiled, “We’ll be there.”

            “That’s on the other side of the continent and too large for anyone to traverse. How do you plan to find one Fallen?” Tamaila sheathed her sword.

            “Don’t worry Kuni, she’ll find a way. She got me to take regular baths for a week so this should be easy for her.” Tamaila chuckled roughing up Shustim’s hair but Kuni just smiled and crossed his arms.

            “That Fallen was right though, I’m your ally. As your new ally I intend to follow you after it.” Tamaila smiled to Kuni.

            “We’re likely to end up dead before we even find the Fallen.”

            Shustim reached up and covered Tamaila’s mouth with a hand speaking for everyone, “Three is better than two. Besides Tamaila’s stories are all old and dumb.” Kuni laughed and Tamaila looked ready to knock Shustim across the room. Eventually she gave in and laughed with them.

 

            The unmasked Fallen kneeled before its master’s throne though its master was looking out a window to the side. The throne room was more of a small alcove at the end of a cat walk with windows to either side and a desk at the back. Under the catwalk machinery grinded and whined like some ferocious beast.

Its master wore a finely cut black tunic and breeches held with a belt studded in onyx. His boots were black leather as well. His silhouetted figure was made more noticeable by the red inside of his otherwise black cape. As intimidating as the wardrobe was, the Master’s large gray wolf build frequently had people begging for mercy. His left eye was replaced with round metal fused into the skin and a ruby center that glowed.

Things had gone bad but news of the two felines intrigued the master as much as the Fallen.

            “Six fallen defeated and all by a pair of cats whom you allowed to follow you. Not news I enjoy Primus.” Primus, the Fallen, twitched slightly. It was an old habit from its former life.

            “I am sorry master but I believe them to be potential Fallen. Otherwise I would have struck them down and brought you their souls.” The master nodded turning his back to Primus. Silence hung in the air as the master calculated the risks and rewards with a few reports on his massive oak desk.

            “Continue to gather souls. Those we gained by killing with the tainted canals have advanced the schedule a few years. Still, we have much time to go before we are ready. I trust you can still accomplish that.” Primus nodded though the master knew its response. Finding potential Fallen was worthwhile but not at the expense of the main goal. The master waved a hand to dismiss Primus.

            As it walked across the catwalks, Primus couldn’t help but wonder how soon those two would reach the desert wastes. They would likely never arrive since the project would be finished before they’d have time to cross into the wastes. Still, they had done things unexpected given their meager abilities. Perhaps Primus had guessed right on them again.