Search is Over }{ Kuna, Ily, AW

[Bhu ♥ Irwin]

I'll never know what brought me here
As if somebody led my hand
It seems I hardly had to steer
My course was planned

Sunbaked earth proved merciless against the worn pads underneath my jagged claws. The night was approaching, allowing for the sun to pulse aggressivly against my back, the twilight hairs embracing the heat as if they had not experienced it in so long a time. I wanted that glowing orb to fail us, to sink below the horizon and refuse to rise for a day. A day is all I ask. Everytime I asked for such a thing, I could feel the disapproving expression of Dio boring into my bare back, more intense than even the radiant sunbeams. I grumbled with frustration, ignoring my Lord's scowls. That was the relationship we had now that I had crawled back to His good grace. We loved each other immensly and He knew I would serve Him with every breath in my body; but I would grumble and mumble the entire way through.

And destiny it guides us all
And by its hand we rise and fall
But only for a moment
Time enough to catch our breath again

It had been the appointed time since I had last seen my dear Mahal, Kunabee, and the white canine that I cared for out of obligation. Would my new friends show up? I was in a different environment than we had formally met within, but I prayed they would discover me easily enough. I had left Kunabee an arrow of twigs pointing in this general direction; plus she should be able to follow my scent. As for Mahal, my understanding was his camp was in this direction, so he would have to pass by in order to come to where we had met those many days ago. My plan was flawless, and yet anxiety knawed at my belly. I had since learned a great deal about the Folami, more than I would ever wish to know about any animal. Had their teachings seeped into the kind hearted puppy I had come to adore? Or has he remained strong standing, despite the walls falling in around him? I prayed he would show us mercy, but logic said it was likely he had since been changed. He had been so young and at an age to be maniupulated. There was no way he could survive with his heart intact.

And even though the seasons change
The reasons shall remain the same
It's love that keeps us holdin' on
Till we can see the sun again

I sat myself down in the shade of the canyon's wall. The sun only peaked over the rim at this time, sending her rays across the area instead of within. My ears sat alert upon my head, eager for the pawsteps of either my friends or foes. I was in the territory of my only true enemy; a dog that was bred to murder my kind. My only hope was to hear them before I sensed my presence. I could not outrun them, I could not outsmart them, I could not outfight them. There were no trees in this canyon, so if I was spotted I had nowhere to go that a Folami could not reach. My only hope was to be invisble, to slip away in the shadows before detection. Without that chance, I had no hope.

And we're just another piece of the puzzle
Just another part of the plan
And we have waited for this moment to die
Ever since the world began

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[I L Y I C H]

I felt like an explorer, scouting out uncharted lands. Or a pirate, searching for a forbidden treasure, though I think pirates would go after something a bit greener then friendship. I could be wrong. But what ever the thoughts plowing through my head I must indeed foray into the land of the pirate, skulking past the royal armada. Uncle followed close behind, his large brow creased with confusion. I had not told him the reason for my leading him out here, but I was sure he would enjoy my surprise.

Underneath all his layers of pessimism, a thing mother said was a new trait, Daiade was a warm soul looking for hope. What better way to supply him with that then to show him my friends, made through a bad mishap that had endeared them to my heart. Bhuvana and Kunabee had treated me like a kitten, not an over grown wolf pup. They had not tried to kill me and I would repay them for that with every ounce of good will in my body. Uncle sidled up beside me, crouching into the recesses of shadow against the rock walls.

"Child, where are we going?" I turned my eyes to look at him, shacking my head before remembering those silver eyes had a reason behind their hue. It wasn't my fault, Uncle didn't act blind I forgot sometimes. Instead I forged ahead, and with a sigh of frustration the black adult folami followed suit. I couldn't very well tell him I was going to meet cats. How was I to know if Daiade held a heart only for Abeni. Well, I was to find out soon enough.

"To meet some friends of mine, Uncle. Its okay, I swear." I could feel the interest perk up on him, the hair lifted along his shoulders. Daiade was childish, and this showed in his moody behavior. It also showed in his over whelming curiosity. I smiled, ocher eyes flickering with amusement. I felt mischievous tricking him into being gun-ho for our little trip.

I had promised my friends, the cats that I would meet them. So I must meet them, a promise must be kept. But I could not leave camp on my own, so I made the ruse of asking Uncle to help me with tracking. He had the best nose in camp, no matter how much the others denied it. There was no one in the world who could out track my Uncle Daiade. And that was what caught me up, the giant black form freezing; silver cross bouncing across his chest.

"Uncle?" Silver eyes turned on me, brow's lifted. How could a blind person look at me with such directness? It was disconcerting, but I smiled up at him innocently. "Is something wrong?" He smiled at me, eyes falling to half mast. Shaking his head no, the blind man turned, following a new trail, one picked up from the other side of the canyon and followed until I could scent it as well. "Bhuvana?" The name fell from my lips and with a twitch of the ear Daiade was whispering her name as well.

Why had my friend come so close to danger? Panic was instant and with a horrified look at Daiade I picked up the search, until in the end I could see her spotted frame hiding in the shadows from what little sun was left. Suddenly aware that I was quiet a bit bigger then I had been, I froze mouth hanging open. "Bhu?" Daiade crept up behind me, blind eyes searching.

"What in the name of Skoll is going on here, my boy?"

[Bhu ♥ Irwin]

I wanted to hide myself from the approaching duo, knowing only one to be Mahal for his scent remained the same. He had forgotten about myself and Kunabee and was now on a feline hunt for sure. I was the Folami's next meal, and I wouldn't fight it. I could not lift a paw against a dog I had helped save as a pup. It would be like striking my own child. A parent can rarely murder their young, even as that young came down to kill them. I had heard that is what happened to Anna of Zonta Pride.

Shrinking into the shadows, I found myself arching into the position of a rageful feral cat towards a Murder Ape that wished to tame it. But Mahal's gentle voice was a reminder of his kindness, and an assurement that he was still my young child, just in a much larger form. And this other dog was not Paragon. Suddenly the fear welled up again and I found myself in the position I had been in all those moons ago. When I had thought Paragon a danger and tried to act as if I did not know Mahal so as to keep the child from danger. But he had used my name. How could I pretend that I do not know this young male if he had so clearly used my name?

"I'm sorry, I did not want to make you have to travel so far as last time. It seemed unfair for you, and unsafe. I forgot how big you would have gotten in that time. I suppose the journey would not have been much of a hassle." I looked the boy up and down, keeping one hesitant eye on the brute beside him. Was he blind? His eyes were an odd shade of silver. "I can leave..." I turned away uncertainly, knowing I would have to head in the same direction I had come so as to cross Kunabee's path. Our Mahal was all grown up.

[Kunabee]

Kunabee~

I ran. I ran as fast as my paws would carry me. I was late, and I knew it. I could smell Bhu. Why was she going so deep into Falomi territory?! I saw twigs, and kept running. Mahal's scent touched my nostrils soon, and I slowed. There was a stranger... But I trusted Mahal. I had to put my faith in these newly-found Dio and Skoll, hoping that the canine god when join with the one granted for felines and guide each of us safely. I carefully came in.
"Bhuvana? Mahal?" I asked, looking at the both. I was stunned by how absolutely HUGE Mahal was.
"You've grown," was my next statement. I walked beside Bhu to feel slightly less short. Finally, I took in the newcomer.
"Who're you?" I asked the Falomi, "I'm Kunabee."

[I L Y I C H]

Mahal--

I flinched slightly, at Bhuvana's less then euphoric greeting. Then again I was unsure of what I expected to begin with. Ocher eyes staring down at my friend, I shuffled forward trying to get closer without scaring anyone. My uncle fell back, feeling as if he was intruding probably. I turned to look at him, a low whine in my throat. "I'm sorry that your worry drug you into such a dangerous far off place, Bhuvana" How could she have thought that coming here was a good idea? She could have gotten killed, or tortured or taken to camp like my poor cousin.

Shuddering, I opened my mouth to introduce my uncle, the man I had told them had taught me Skoll months prior. But she moved. She tried to leave, and panic attacked me full in the face. "No! No! Don't leave, I'm sorry If I've frightened you" Daiade had flown from my mind. Why did everyone leave me? Why? It was a fear rooted in nothing but the loss of my father, and of Ayita and Paradox. It was illogical and Clarimonde would not agree with it. Why was she cropping up in my head?

But i was terrified of the ocelot leaving. She couldn't leave, she'd promised to come meet me. But she had already come. The promise was kept, and I had no right to stop her. My body pulled back, sinking in on itself, I could feel that false smile wrench up on my face. My uncle twitched, he had come up behind me, interested despite trying to seem harmless. I had run backward into his chest, the silver cross bonked across my skull. "If you want to leave, its okay. Sorry for having drug you so far off your way, Bhuvana"

Her nickname did not come to my lips, that would be a sign of familiarity. If she didn't want to be here anymore, I wouldn't blame her. A lot of people didn't want to be near me anymore. My face hurt. No matter how often I kept this smile on my lips the muscles controlling it refused to become accustom to it. Uncle settled his nose against my ear before pulling back and stepping around to my right side. His blind eyes skipped over Bhuvana, nose twitching furiously to draw in the scents.

Kunabee? My head lashed around at her greeting, though Daiade seemed to have noticed her coming. But blind old Uncle could hear a bugs heartbeat, so that wasn't much of a surprise. Had I grown? I wasn't sure, I still felt so very small. But to them I would be large, now the size of a leopard at least. My black fur had fallen from the childhood down into the sleekness of adulthood. I was almost a yearling. What a horrible though. Why couldn't I stay a blissfully ignorant child? I didn't say anything, though my tail wagged weakly behind me.

Uncle dipped his body, sliding to the ground with a grunt. Large black paws dabbled at the ground before him, searching to be sure there was nothing that would hurt him before he laid his head down against the rough rock. Silver blind eyes stared up from their now lower place. "I am Mahal's Uncle, my name is Daiade" That's right my uncle was still with me. He would never leave me. Mama and Cezy wouldn't either. Clarimonde was my friend now, and Nimrod though annoyed by my behavior was a good mentor. I had Val too.And Abeni. My ears flicked forwards. I could keep Bhuvana and Kunabee too. "Its good to meet you, Kunabee. And you as well, Bhuvana"

He lifted his chin from the ground, ears cocked to be sure I was in the same place so he didn't look silly looking around for me. "Mahal, you could have just told me we were going to see your friends. I left Abeni behind with your rather grumpy mother because I thought you were in trouble wit some one" My ears went back, face pulling into real apology.

"Sorry Uncle, but with the pack as it is right now... I wasn't sure if Abeni was the only cat you liked" Daiade snorted, head tilted to the side. Obviously thinking I was a loon. I stuck my tongue out at him, grinning with relief. Of course he couldn't see it though.

"Now if my daughter was the only feline I cared for that would make me a big hypocrite wouldn't it?" His head turned back to Kunabee, a small smile on his lips. The man was too beaten down as the pack omega to pull forth anything as vibrant as he had when I was a young child, it was depressing really.

"Big fat hypocrite" Silver eyes turned back to me, one more narrow then the other. I grinned. "You forgot the fat part" Uncle turned a look of false injury on my friends.

"Do you see what this boy dose to me? His poor old blind uncle? calling me fat! Its fluff I say!" He turned a warm smile on the two felines, eyes blind but heart all seeing.

[Bhu ♥ Irwin]

I silent curse passed my mind as I came to understand that I had hurt my friend with my offer to leave. I had done to him what Alec had done to me. I knew that fear, that knowing that everyone will leave you eventually. I lived it every day of my life. How hypocritical I was, causing the same pain on another that I myself felt hate for the one who made me feel it. I'm not better than those who oppose my God.

My maw opened to apologize but was forced shut as a small figure entered my peripheral, he sweet voice bringing a sense of calm on my heart. My eyes danced over to the feline, my lips offering a welcoming smile. Her words reminded me of the stranger that walked beside Mahal, forcing my attention back to him. I listened to their exchange, the brute and my young child. Abeni, that was the lioness Mahal had told us about. She was still alive. Maybe Dio was wrong.

"I hate to be the gloomy one to dampen the mood, but I have a serious question. Dio has told my group and I about an uproar in the Folami Camp. Has there been a change of leadership? He warned us that life would become much more dangerous now that the Folami have a new ruler who will work them dry to kill the felines." I looked to my paws uneasily. I hoped Mahal and Kunabee did not think I had stayed loyal to this meeting because of my own buisness I had to cover. I had wanted to see them, I really did. But Mahal was a connection into the dangerous enemy that my family worked so tirelessly to defend against. I had to pick his brain first, and then let myself enjoy the fellowship.

"Oh, and it is the ultimate honor to meet you, Daiade. Mahal has told us about you and your high esteem for Skoll. Bless you, sir. It is dogs like you that make what My Family and I do possible." My sheepish expression turned to the blind male, ashamed that I had so rudely jumped into buisness and not given the man his due.

[Kunabee]

Kunabee~

My ears swiveled, hearing the rest of the conversation. I giggled at Mahal and Daiade.
"That's not very nice of him at all, calling you fat,," I agreed, and then, beginning to chortle, "B-but it might b-be true!" I let myself laugh, then stopped as Bhuvana began to talk.
"An uprising?!" I exclaimed, "There's no way that can be good!" And then I heard her talk about Daiade. He worshipped Skoll? He must be safe then, I thought. Not like I didn't act like he was safe already. I trusted Mahal, that's all it came down to.

WOOC; Fail post is fail.

[I L Y I C H]

ooc://chortle ftw <33

Mahal--

"An uprising?" I sighed heavily, every ounce of joy flopping out of me in a minute. "It wasn't an uprising, that bastard took everything in a second" My teeth ground together, anger taking over for a second before with a grunt I slumped down next to my uncle. Eyes flicking away guiltily, I shook my head. "No.. sorry. Lucifer is the new alpha's name." I fell silent then, unsure if I could go on without either erupting into fury or bursting into tears. either one would be bad, I didn't want to trouble my friends. It would be cruel of me to let others shoulder my burden.

Uncle had other idea's, his silver eyes turned from me to Bhuvana. "There has been no uprising as the boy has said, but our lives are in shambles, dear Bhuvana" Daiade's voice slid into silence, his brow crumpling with anger. "The humans took away our alpha. Took away my sisters mate and my nephew's father" I flinched, and he cast an apologetic look towards me before taking a deep breath and turning a more composed face towards the smaller creatures before us. "The new alpha, a man named Lucifer took over shortly after." Anger lurched back through Uncle's black body, his bulky muscles tightened and loosened spasmodically.
"Our pack voted my sister out of power. Those traitor's removed their loving alphess from the throne and gave it to a blood thirsty dictator"

My body coiled away from Uncle's, as if doing so would make the words untrue. But they were true, and I had to deal with the consequences. I had to be strong. No one would fight this for me. "But we still have our loyals, even if Lucifer has started to banish them for crimes they did not commit." I countered, referencing Paradox and Ayita. They would not betray us. There was some other explanation. Some other reasoning. My ears set back against the round of my skull. "Our numbers are almost even... Mother is recovering. She'll fight for her crown soon." Daiade nodded in response to my almost forced optimism.

"My sister will not allow for mindless killing, Abeni; the lioness trapped in our camp. She has become just as much Carska's daughter as my own" He shook his head, and blind eyes unfocused rested his chin on his paws. "Skoll is worried" he added offhandedly, and I twitched shocked by the way he said it. As if he had spoken to the fire breather? "I doubt we are through the blackest of our trials" My body deflated against Daiade's strong side, and the man turned his head to touch me. "I'm sorry boy but we can no loner look to false hopes." My head nodded by itself, the heart behind it darkening with hurt.

"Bhuvana" His thick skull pulled away from my silent unresponsive body. "Your name, it sounds familiar" The man's head tilted, blind eyes seeing far more then mine could. Slowly I pulled my face from the comforting darkness of his inky pelt. Familiar? Why would he know my friend? Why? Daiade accepted her greeting with a nod and a smile, though he still looked conflicted. "Would there be a reason blue-eyes would speak of you?" My ears twitched, shock spilling into my eyes. Blue-eyes was a title only folami used for our god, a nickname we used when so far down in our pain we had to joke about something. Even if it were the puppy eyes of our savior.

[Bhu ♥ Irwin]

My stomach churned as the two spoke with such repressed passion for the wrecking ball that had fallen to demolish the once proud pack. My kind feared the Folami, but they too were mortal. They too had issues of their own. Sometimes we felines forgot that a Folami life is not a fearless one. Just because they were created, does not mean they were granted perfection.

My lips pursed to say I was sorry, to sympathize. But what would that do? These dogs did not need empty words, they needed a hope more tangible than Skoll or Dio. These dogs needed an answer, just as we cats did. Maybe our two lives were really a single unit. Perhaps we did not need to find a way to defeat the Folami, but to simply learn to coexist. Birds never tried to kill off all of my kind, though we hunted them mercilessly for food. This was the same thing. A Folami needed to eat and, like a bird is instinctual prey for an Ocelot, an Ocelot is instinctual prey for a Folami. They could not control that urge because there bodies needed it.

Realizing my mind had stormed away in a tangent, I momentarily missed Daiade's sightless stare and ponderings. I did, however, catch his question. I was not familiar of Skoll's physical appearance, but a gut feeling made me understand that Skoll was blue-eyes. Looking to me feeting nervously, I shuffled. It hit me then that in order for Daiade to make such a statement, he had to have personally spoken to Skoll. Dio had said that his Folami Partner had gathered some of his own to be like us Peace Leaders. Was Skoll one of them? I could not take that risk so I looked back down and played dumb.

"I, uh, see no reason why he would mention me. Bhuvana is a Native American word so I am sure there are a fair number of cats named Bhuvana. He must have been speaking of someone else." It came out too fast, too rushed.

Damn, being a Peace Leader has turned me into a sucky liar.

[Kunabee]

Kunabee~

As I listened to the story, I felt my stomach churning. My throat clogged up. It was sympathy, at first, and then it was empathy; I understood loosing what you called your life. I understood losing things familiar.
It was a faint memory for me now, but it was there. It was scary. But they had something familiar, there were still people there.
I began to say something. But there was nothing to say. No words came to my mind, and I felt ashamed because of it. Words were always able to come. Maybe some things are too terrible for words...
Then Daiade asked Bhu a question. Blue-eyes...? I had no idea. However, it seemed Bhuvana did. Her response was clearly a lie. I tilted my head a little.
I wanted to ask why she lied, but decided against it. For now, I thought, I'll let her answer on her own time.

[I L Y I C H]

Daiade--

Shaking off my quiet hurt, I twitched my ears up read the ocelot's response. The small sigh that escaped me was tinged with stress. Hadn't there been enough deception in the world? But then if the girl was what I thought she was then maybe her inability to lie was a good thing. Mahal beet me to the punch, his ocher eyes slightly put off by the obvious lie. We folami were so accustom to lies, it would have taken a real pro to fool even my nephew. "Does it have something to do with your Peace Leading, Bhuvana?" Ah that's what it was, my mouth pulled into a small 'o' of understanding.

"Yes..." I smiled, looking into the black world in the direct I had last heard the more outspoken female's voice "That's where I heard it. You remember the stories I told you, Mahal?" The boy huddled to my side lightened up a bit. Understanding sparking in the confusion. Leaning back against me he nodded, body relaxing into mine once more. Swinging my head sideways to peer in the direction I had last sensed Kunabee, I waved my tail openly at them. "We're here to talk, right? Come over here, I wont hurt you I swear. It looks rather uncomfortable just standing out there like you are"

Mahal's body scooted slightly backward, offering up my left side as a bed should either of the felines want it. but if they were frightened that was okay. We folami were not known for out kindness, I was one of those rare exceptions. The genetic mishap. I lowered my head back to my paws, silver eyes staring into my world of nothing. "Please, will you tell me of your wanderings? I know so little about your family" Almost as little as I knew about mine these days.

[Bhu ♥ Irwin]

I looked up weakly at the dog's question. He had guessed it, so he had to be a child of Skoll. There was no doubt now as the strength returned to me and a smile broke forth. But what about Mahal and Kunabee? Surely Dio would not be opposed to these two holy creatures knowing. If it was wrong, he would have made it clear to Skoll to make it clear to Daiade to keep his maw shut.

Turning to glance at Kunabee, I beckoned with Daiade for the girl to come closer. We were a family of mix-matched experiements, here. Four flashlights in this dark cave. We had to rely on each other because Dio only knows how little we can rely on the world. "Yeah, I suppose it could have something to do with that." I smirked as I looked back to Daiade with my response. "Sorry for my attempt towards a lie; we just try and keep ourselves lowkey so that those who really need us don't try to avoid us." I glanced to each of them with that, telling them that it had to stay between us four alone.

At Daiade's ponderings, I found myself sitting back onto my haunches comfortingly and thinking back on the group I often walked with. "Well, there is not much to share. We have a free roaming leopardess named Alia, a free roaming tiger named Taraji and his young daughter, and then there's our Akando lioness, Anabi. Them three, plus me, are Peace Leaders, Taraji's daughter is a followerer of ours, and we have our messiah, Dio's Daughter, Ahlam." I dropped it at that, unsure what more to say. Our mission was obvious but we had had no huge victories recently. Except...

"Alia and I have recently gained a footway into the Akando pride. Konta, son of Anabi and Ezhno, killed an old friend of mine so Alia and I verbally attacked him, and then something we said stuck and he now wanders, waving Dio's flag." The news excited me because Akando was one of the world's biggest threats. Now we had to put a foot into Ende...and Daiade was my foothold into the Folami pack. Maybe this mission of ours was not totally moot.

OOC//: As much as I love you, Bhuvana, you are sucky to post as........

[Kunabee]

Kunabee~

This Peace Leader talk intrigued me. With my ears raised, I listened. When first Daiade, then Bhu, gestured me over, I came and sat by Bhu. And listened further. I took in the names. So there were four Peace Leaders - and then followers. I grinned.
"So you got a member of Akando to believe and to listen. That's... that's fantastic!" I exclaimed, "Especially one so high up, too." Then the bright look turned into a sad one.
"I'm sorry... No, that won't do. I'm sad that it took the death of a friend to get someone to listen. I... I don't know what to say," I added softly. I could feel myself loosing a friend.
I would be crying for a long, long time if I was in her position.

[I L Y I C H]

Mahal--

I watched quietly, listening as Bhuvana spoke. The smile on uncle's face grew larger as she named the others. Cats set up by Dio to make their lives peaceful. Daiade swung his head in that odd manor he had when he was incredibly happy. It was rare to see it now. "I understand" The words came from him in almost a purr. He was like that too, I knew. Skoll had called upon him as well, and others. Names he had given me that had fallen from my young mind like fleas from my body. What had been their names? "Skoll has done the same thing, inspired by Dio's trust in you and your abilities" Yes he was going to give me the names again.

I wanted to know their names, needed to know. Who had come to help us? And why weren't they trying harder? It is wrong, I know, to blame them... but is very hard not to be bitter about it. Turning slightly to watch Daiade's collared neck arch slightly, I spoke up as well. "Uncle who's side are they on?" The black body pressed to mine stiffened. He turned to look towards me with sorrow in his silver gaze. Uncle was disappointed in me, I could tell, but my face hardened into something made of ice. This was not something I would turn on. Those who had taken Lucifer's side obviously had no resolve. They could not be trusted with something so important.

Black snout turned back towards Bhuvana, Daiade lowered his head slightly, the tip of his nose almost touching dirt. "Their names are Logan, Evangeline, and Solu." he said softly, answering my question in the process. My own ocher eyes narrowed. I had inherited some of my family's darkness, and that could not be avoided. It still made me feel awful though. But two of those others took up Carska's flag. The third was a loner. Tail twitching closer to my body, I glanced in sympathy towards Bhuvana as she spoke of death. Who had died? So many people just die. I ducked my head back against Daiade's side so I could hide my open eyes. So Bhu couldn't see the look their that read so clearly.

Everything is set to break you. You can gain nothing without first shattering to pieces. I had learned this early on in life, and clung to it. Because if that wasn't true then I could easily drown in my pain. That's all life was at this point. Pain and the confusion that trudges after it. Daiade turned his head slightly as well, blind eyes speaking the same as my heart. "It is good, that you have infiltrated Akando's heart. We have heard nasty tails from their borders." He picked his words carefully, you could tell. He didn't want to say anything insensitive, but we had so long ago given up on sounding empathetic in the pack. Everyone knew the pain, so there had been no point in hiding it. To revert back to such was a reminder that our affairs were but a small trifle.

Our pain meant little in the ways of the world

[Bhu ♥ Irwin]

My spine quivered at Kunabee's words. I didn't dare rebute them, knowing that a Peace Leader shouldn't say she's happy Alec is gone. Besides, it'd only be half true. I did miss Alec, however much I hated the man.

Turning my blank eyes to Daiade, I listened to his words carefully. I planted the names into my head, pausing on Logan. I had once been told that name. Logan was the child of Jeremiah, a former kittenhugger, and also Rhonda, a brutal Folami. Rhonda's death turned Jeremiah cold, but it seemed Logan had held true to his father's former teachings. There was finally some real good news to lighten my heart.

"Have you and your conrads had any victories, Daiade? Any former hunters given up their feline lusts?" Hesitantly, I shot a quick eye towards Mahal. "By the way, there were no lasting affects on your paw, were there? I didn't want to speak it when you were a child, but I did fear you would have a perminant limp."