Utter Devotion

The Nelox's Cavern

Spreading out, each remaining member of the group searched for any sign of where Thor had gone.

Ciannait and Loki searched together along the river bed, their own foot prints still clearly outlined in the sandy terrain.

"Loki?"

Ciannait kept her voice low, to prevent it from carrying to the forrest where Ratana was searching, "You don't think he would have left her, would he? You know him better than I."

Looking up she met Loki's eyes, the swirling blue green mixing with concern.

"My brother is many things, but he is steadfast to those he loves," looking around him, he craned his neck, to peer at a bit of disturbed brush along the opposite side of the river bed, "and from what I can tell, he is head over heels in love with Ratana. He would not abandon her."

Ciannait opened her mouth to speak again but felt the distinct pull of her sisters, "I think they found something."

Loki followed her as she trapsed thru the underbrush towards the pull of her sisters, to where Ratana stood holding a torn piece of red fabric with Sagira looking around.

"He definitely came thru here, and headed deeper into the forest," Sagira confirmed pointing to a clearly trampled path that led deeper into the woods.

As Sagira spoke, Loki heard the faintest melody, as if someone was singing echoing thru the trees.

"Do you hear that?"

The haunting melody began grow louder, making his head pound and ache as beautiful as it was.

"Loki?"

He felt his vision began to tunnel vision, as Ciannait stepped in front of him, urgently he clutched at her shoulders, "We can't hear anything."

The ringing in his head began to grow worse, and her words even though only inches away from his face sounded as if they were muffled, "How can you not hear that?

He stumbled, his head falling forward on to Ciannait's shoulder, Sagira and Ratana, who had been hovering near by, rushed forward and help Ciannait guide him to the ground.

As Loki collapsed, all the pieces clicked into place for Ciannait and her stomach sank with dread.

Ciannait cradled his head in her hands looking him over, "Loki, I think I know what it might be, I need you to try to change into your female form for me, can you do that love?"

The soft pads of her thumbs trailed over his cheeks, distracting him momentarily from the mounting pain in his head, Loki shifted his form quickly.

As she changed the pain and the ringing stopped almost as suddenly as they had begun, and she immediately sagged gratefully into Ciannait's lap.

Ratana and Sagira both gave her a puzzled look as they watched what happened but she shook her head, she would have to explain later, time was of the essence if they were going to save Thor.

"Better?" She asked Loki as she looked up from her lap and gave her a look of pure relief.

"Much. That was so strange."

"I know what took Thor."

Loki took a moment and sat up, expecting her head to rush, but when it didn't she nodded, silently urging Ciannait to speak.

"They are called Neloxs. Ancient hideous creatures with a head like a woman, a body like a spider but with scales and a mouthful of razor sharp teeth, rumored to live near these forests. I knew we were close but I assumed they were just rumors. They live deep in caves and they work like sirens. Drawing men away and luring them into kill them."

A worried shiver passed thru the group, Sagira was the first to shake off the oppressive panic, picking up her bow, she then slung her quiver across her back.

"Then we'd better go save lover boy then hadn't we."

Quickly the group each gathered their weapons, they left their horses tethered to the trees near the tent, the horses would make more noise that would draw too much attention to them, stealth was their only ally.

After about an hour of walking Following Thors trail, Ciannait found a moment to speak to Loki, while handing her a drink from their canteen.

"Are you alright?"

She blushed as she asked, a sudden shyness making her feel less bold.

"I am fine, the pain was gone the second I changed forms."

After a few more minutes in silent walking, Loki reached out and intertwined her fingers with Ciannait's.

"You called me love."

"Yes."

Ciannait blushed again, and purposefully didn't meet Loki's eyes, turning to look ahead to Sagira.

"Please don't be bashful. I like it."

"It just seemed right, after all you have endearment for me."

Loki lifted her hand to her lips and placed a gentle kiss on her hand, before playfully nipping at her wrist, smirking at her

Ciannait opened her mouth to speak when Sagira came to an abrupt stop in front of them and threw up her hand to silence them.

It was then she noticed the silence in the forest, earlier they had been walking the forest had been full of bird calls, rustling wings, even a few frog croaks, but now the silence was oppressive, as if they forrest was trying to warn them away.

Sagira sank down into a crouch and began to crawl forward, moving silently.

Following Sagira, she crept forward, being careful to follow her motions, while she had trained as a warrior Sagira was a seasoned hunter and knew better than she how to approach dangerous predators.

Slowly they circled around what they realized was the entrance to a set of deep caverns, the smell of decaying flesh wafted in their direction, she felt Loki moving behind her, and just beyond she heard a slight gag from Ratana.

They all froze, hidden quite fortunately under a large series of bushes, suddenly multiple clicking noises could be heard when something emerged from the cave.

The clicking grew louder when something large climb out the roof and creep up the rock wall.

The large nelox almost slithered up the rockface, it's six scaled legs somehow impossibly gripping the sheer cliff, it's head turned around scanning the forrest below, looking for the source of the noise.

A slight movement to her left drew her eyes away from the horror in front of her, Loki had covered Ratana's mouth with her hand and was holding her under her arm as tears streamed down her face as she looked at the creature now peering down at them.

Slowly the nelox seemed to decide the noise was nothing to be concerned with.

It called out with another clicking noise and three more neloxs crawled forth from the depths, two of them dragging a large red bundle between them.

Unceremoniously they dropped the bundle on the ground and Ciannait leaned up just far enough to see Thor unconscious with a bleeding bite on his neck.

We need to find a place we can plan from sister, Sagira's thoughts touched on her own, pull back, she agreed, not far just far enough we can talk without being discovered.

Ratana nodded huddled again Loki,  her eyes ringed red from her tears.

Slowly they all backed away, no one taking their eyes of Thors prone form on the ground till they lost sight of him.