The Hovering Ingress: The Hidden World

Chapter 5

History

The Same Cycle

Feeling threatened, the winged panther swallowed the saliva in her mouth and flicked her ears back. This large ophoris was far bigger than the others she had just seen, and his horns gleamed under the sun that brought an orange glow to his body. His dark fur flowed a little as a small breeze flew by, his gaze unwavering. The golden markings in his pelt went along his ankles on all his paws, along with on his neck.

"Lord Manipi," Masoom replied with awe in his eyes before finally bowing down. "I was just about to visit you with these bifers."

"I see that," Manipi rumbled, slightly shaking his head and the cloak-like mane on his neck shook.

Quietly, the ophoris turned to look at the four felines, squinting his piercing eyes. Widening their eyes, they looked at each other before bowing their heads a little, exchanging their confused gazes to each other.

"Come with me to the cave."

Shock rippled through the group of felines as they snapped their heads up, looking over at the blue marked ophoris next to them. He stood up correctly and looked back at them, then nodded his head to the gold marked beast, watching as he turned and headed toward the mountain. Quickly, the bifers ran after the large creature, flicking their gazes back to Masoom occasionally.

"S-so you're Manipi?" Jasar managed to stutter out, quickly hiding behind Marsh when Manipi looked in his direction.

"That is correct, I see Masoom has spoken of me to you."

"And, you're the leader over all of those creatures back there?" Favi asked, jabbing a thumb back to the dispersing crowd.

"Yes," the cloak-maned ophoris rumbled, stopping just before the edge of the mountain and leaping up onto a cliff.

Xengu's ears perked up a little and she crouched a little, running a tongue over her lips as she focused on the cliff ledge. Just as she flapped her wings, she was grabbed by the scruff and lifted to the ledge and sat down. Startled, she stumbled a little and looked back to see Masoom's head disappearing underneath ledge and bringing up Marsh. The male lynx stood up and looked at the female, then chuckled and shrugged as she pointed at the blue eyed ophoris with an irritated and confused look on her face. He then flinched as Favi stumbled into view and helped her to her paws, looking over to his other side and watching as Jasar quickly stood up and dusted himself off, an embarrassed blush on his face. The panther flicked her ears, then yowled with alarm as Masoom jumped over them, landing his back paws just behind the winged female. The female was surprised for a short while before looking back at the others and continuing their hike up the mountain.

"So do you know Frosten? The one who gave us these markings or whatever?" Favi had decided to ask as she scrambled over a rock.

"Of course I do, I work with her."

Their ears immediately perked up and the four looked at each other with wide eyes and flicked their gazes to Masoom.

"What does she look like?" Jasar carefully asked, awe in his eyes.

"Bigger than me, for sure, a sea blue kind of color to her scales and large ice crystals on her back and strangely, green eyes," the gold eyed ophoris purred.

Soon enough, the group found themselves up and staring into the empty abyss of the cave entrance, the sound of water dripping and trickling echoing through it. Xengu stared with a small shiver, her fur bristling slightly. She looked back and widened her eyes a little as she realized it was pitch black outside. Her body felt tired and worn out as well, so she was slightly grateful to stop traveling. Still...