The Hovering Ingress: The Hidden World

Chapter 33

Kidnapping

Four Sune Cycles Later

Xengu slammed her paws on the ground, urging herself to push forward, the sound of screams flooding her ears. Heat blazed at her fur and fire crackled in her ears, making her turn to see fire rushing toward her in red flames. Widening her eyes, she roared out desperately, calling to the ones she had loved most. Though, it seemed that they were futile, as she turned and looked back as a flame flicked from the side of her vision.

Suddenly something grabbed her leg and she yelled as she was thrown to the ground, her claws unsheathing and moving to kick whoever was pursuing her. Her foot hit nothing and she was dragged toward the licking flames. Xengu shrieked and desperately fought back, feeling hands starting to grab her other limbs. Her wings, her arms, all fighting to drag her to her death.

Finally, a surge of adrenaline spiked, and she snarled, her vision suddenly clearing, and she whirled around, throwing her claws down and into the fire. All feeling of restraint was gone and she fought against the flames, her claws ripping through them like paper. Even with all of her strength, the fire continued to grow around her and engulf her.

Feeling as though she wasn't going to win, she quickly tried to bolt out, but it seemed that everywhere she went, she was surrounded. Finding a clearing at last, she charged for it, though the silhouette in the clearing forced her to a full stop. Her fur bristled and she bared her fangs, her pupils enlarging at the threat.

There stood a beast she swore wouldn't be a threat to them, even with everything she had learned about her. Favi, Marsh, both brutally beaten to bruises and slashes, were held limply in the mouth, Jasar upon the back standing by will. Through the ever-encroaching flames, she could spot it. The broken red chains, the red eyes, the black teeth. Raid.

-

The panther threw herself up out of her nightmare, sweat drenching her fur and dropping onto the soft leaves. Xengu stared at the droplets, panting heavily. Remembering seeing blood on the ground, she squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head. No, she couldn't remember that! Not right now!

Things seemed to whisper in her head, things she couldn't understand, words she couldn't determine. Her eyes frantically went to the cave exit. Growling, she scrambled over Favi and out of the leaf pile, her claws scratching the stone floor. She had to get out of there, it felt so, constricting there.

Just before she could make it out into the darkness of the early morning, a paw was set out in front of her, making her skid to a halt and bump into it. Hissing, she scrambled up onto her paws, holding a hand to her head and shaking it. Quietly, she blinked away her daze and quietly looked up.

"V-Verso?" she stuttered.

The warrior ophoris gazed down at her gently and nuzzled her, a concerned look in his eyes.

"Is everything alright? You seem frantic..."
The winged panther flattened her ears against her head and softly shook it. She then sighed and quietly crawled up to the fresh air of the forest.

"No, bad dream... but I'm sure some water and a good hunt will do me some good."

Verso blinked quietly at Xengu before looking out at the sky and nodding a little. He got up as well and stretched his brown body before sitting down.

"Don't go out too far, I don't want to get into too much trouble," he purred. "I'm sure you wouldn't be too much of a problem to about that though, unlike the others."