The Hovering Ingress: The Hidden World

Chapter 20

News of a Prisoner

Two Sune Cycles Later

Jasar mumbled as he sat up from the pile of leaves he rested on. He had been doing some self defense training at last with a few of the ophoree, which had exhausted him. A simple nap in the cool of the herb cave had been good enough to get him up and running. With a small yawn the cat stood up and stretched, walking over to the nutrient pool and cupping some into his hands. Quietly sipping it up, he closed his eyes and listened to the small waterfall trickling water into the pool. It was so relaxing being in that spot. Though the peaceful wake up was soon disrupted by vines moving and heavy paws tapping on the floor.

"Meditrina asked to see you," Kira's voice echoed.

A deep sigh escaped the tom cat and he let the rest of the water he was about to drink fall on the ground.

"I'm on my way."

Quietly the cat pushed through the thick and heavy vines and stepped out into the lobby. The soft lights above him led the way to the Mender Commander and a messenger ophoris. This made the male start to wonder a little.

What was it that he was being called to do? Was it to heal guards again? Maybe the warriors? What else could it possibly be that he was doing now? Meditrina flicked her ears and faced Jasar with a blank gaze.

"You're temporarily dismissed, at least as long as Manipi and Maliki have you," the commander explained.

An exasperated sigh escaped the tom cat, though he nodded and looked toward the messenger ophoris. It had large wings just like any other normal ophoris, though as the light gray male thought about it, it was kind of strange. Looking at his commander, it was clear she could never take to the skies with the leaf like appendages on her back, though what made her that way? It was all too strange to look at her and realize she was of the same species as the other ophoree. Was it rare for the beasts to be born without wings? Or perhaps was it normal on occasion and the male simply hadn't paid much attention to other creatures like Meditrina. Quickly shaking his head out of his daze, Jasar walked up to the messenger and climbed up its lowered side.

The world had many new things now that Jasar and the others had been exposed to it. As the messenger stepped out of the cave, the tom cat squinted his eyes at the bright light. Once his vision had cleared, he widened his eyes. In front of him and his ride, was another messenger, three pairs of familiar eyes gazing right back at him

"Jasar!" Favi called.

Xengu grunted while Marsh waved.

"Hey! What in the world is going on?" The light gray tom asked.

"Not so sure, everyone's keeping quiet about it," Marsh replied. "Even these two aren't telling us."

The two ophoree messengers seemed to not pay attention to the conversing felines and walked up next to each other, growling things in their tongue.

"Weird, normally they would explain the situation."

"I think I know what's going on, but I've only heard whispers of it," Xengu mentioned, bracing herself along with the others for flight.

"Really? Tell us!" Favi shouted over the wind.

"Something about a 'persecution' I think. I'm not all too sure, it's only gossip as far as I'm concerned."

"And you would think that she would take gossip seriously with her rank," Jasar mumbled to himself.

The two ophoree carrying the group flew over the forest surrounding the base of the mountain. The name of the mountain on this island made the cat ponder to himself for a moment. What could it possibly be called? Fulgor's Mountain? Highland Mountain? Royal Mountain? It could have been any of those, but now that the cat thought about it, Royal Mountain wouldn't make sense, since many ophoree lived in the caves of it. As the two messengers slowed to a stop, the cat had to lift himself to look back at Royal's Cave. Though the distance from him and the ground made him shrink back to the ophoris' pelt, a question popped to his mind. Where were they heading, and why were Manipi and Maliki away from Royal's Cave? As far as the cat was concerned, the only time he saw them away from the cave was to meet him and the other three. What made them leave their cave on occasion? The tom cat was snapped out of his thoughts as his ride was over and the messenger lowered itself to the ground. Quietly he shifted himself and slid down the side of the large beast, stumbling as he landed.