Storm Call

Past Forgiveness

"So this Ender guy, why is he so important?" Nocha asked, her tail sweeping the floor. Azazel's description of him made her feel uneasy about what was being asked of them. "So what if he killed that dragon? It has to be a bigger deal than that to justify my time."

Gana agreed with her, adding, "Is there something you're forgetting, Azal? If we don't do this, we die anyway. You think you can just fool a dragon that almost killed you just a minute ago?" Nocha put a hand on his shoulder in an attempt to calm him down. "Besides, if he really is as strong as Prince Navomi thinks he is, why wouldn't he go after Ender himself? Make sure the whole thing gets done how he wants?"

"If he wanted to do that, we'd be out of a job, now wouldn't we?" Azazel retorted, arms now crossed. "All the info I've told you is what I know for myself, nothing more, nothing less. A cat on cat fight should be interesting to watch, if it comes to it." He turned towards the door before tipping his chair back. "Rika, can you sense that magic, too? The big cluster?" She nodded. The other two were confused. How couldn't they sense it when they're normally scouting for things like this?

"If you're confused over there, think of it this way: you're new to a place and we've been there most of our lives. I've been keeping track of them on other orders. They've got a master wizard with them, so if they do decide to fight, that's a problem we'll have to deal with." She paced the room for a bit before speaking again. "It wouldn't be the best idea to fight, anyway. That ice dragon, whatever her name is, seems pretty aggressive, and she's pretty damn fast, too. I'd end up frozen before I even had the chance to do anything." She stopped suddenly, creating a misty veil around her before exposing her wings and talons. Gana and Azazel had also let their tail and ears appear before Nocha spoke up again.

"Zazel, if you're really this worried about this, then let us go alone. Unless there's something you haven't told us out of embarrassment?" She expected him to deny her claim, but instead, he nodded. "It's something about him? What, you two did something together before?"

"I think that's enough, Noch. Digging more is only keeping me from telling you longer," he snapped, now standing. "You lyons have always interested me. Tell me, what's the best thing about being one?" His ears slowly began to transform into those of one, only retaining their natural brown and white colors. "Is it how much magic you can absorb before it starts affecting you negatively?" Other parts of his body began to suddenly transform into lyon body parts before he fully reverted to his new natural lyon body. "Oh, this potency! It feels so intoxicating! Why haven't I done this earlier?" He reveled in his temporary power boost before coming back to his senses. "Whew, that was intense. Let's tell Navomi we're going, but not a peep about what we're actually trying to do, got it?" Before they even managed to get out, the sound of boots clanking quickly began to grow closer until stopping at the door.

"ANGR, what are you discussing in there? And why so suddenly?" Navomi asked impatiently. "If it's not about being dispatched to take care of the brat, then there's no need to talk." He didn't wait for a response before walking away. With him gone, the group began to walk towards the entrance of the den. As they started to see daylight from outside, Navomi stopped them again. "So you've decided to become a lyon, have you, ferret?" he questioned, certain that taking a cat's form would be the better option. "Keep your distance, all of you. The last thing I need is my elite squad to be frozen and killed by a Snowstar of all things." As he walked away, he shouted, "And remember what I told you, Azazel!" before opening the gate outside. As they began to leave, a dragon landed not too far ahead in their path. Before long, he spoke.

"So, my brother's sending you out? I guess he's finally tired of waiting and knows that as long as that traitorous brother of ours and his friends are alive, he can't finish what he started." As he spoke, he spewed small amounts of blue flames onto the snow beneath him, scorching the land. "I trust that you'll report back to us within the next two days. However," he said as he drew closer, now in his human form, "if I think you failed to relieve us of that threat, be prepared to die." The group nodded before Brandon began his stroll into the cavern.

As the gates closed behind them, Rika was the first to speak. "Azzy… are we really risking our lives for him? I mean, we're doing that now, but for just one person we aren't connected to?" She trailed off, not sure of how to put her feelings to words. "A-anyway, I'll fly us as close as possible, out of earshot of those two. I'll be carrying Gana this time, so Nocha and the pseudo lyon, hop on." Doing as told, the two went to their base forms as Gana braced himself for the freezing wind that'd soon be blasting him. By the time he even realized they were in the air, a house was in sight, along with someone standing outside.

"That… that can't be a cat spirit! Not out here!" Nocha shouted over the wind. Seconds later, a bright flash flew by. That scent…! "We need to land now, Rika! Hurry!" she screamed, very afraid. You never mentioned something about a kitsune! How didn't you notice?! Soon after touching ground, the four quickly tried to come up with a new plan. Unfortunately for them, they hadn't noticed Stella's presence.

"So, not even a day later and you've come here. Do you know why I haven't frozen any of you yet?" she snarled, black scales slowly covering her face and arms. "It's because I'd rather have the satisfaction of tearing you apart with my bare hands." Just before she had a chance to move, Luna called her.

"Stella, that's enough!" she shouted, now realizing what would've happened if she hadn't. A harpy, two lyons and a cat… quite the circus that came.

Nocha spoke first, visibly trembling in place. "We're just here to talk. We didn't come here wanting to kill anyone. Look, we aren't -".

Stella cut her off. "I don't care about what you have to say. Either you keep quiet and come with me, or I'll personally drag all of you down to hell." They chose the former, and were soon greeted with a room full of cats.

"…So it's you. Five years is long enough for us to get over each other, right?" His slow steps echoed throughout the house, frightening all who heard them. "Do you have any idea how much I've learned about what you did to me that day? How much I hate not being in my natural form because of you?" Those are…lyon ears?! "You damn ferret, show me who you really are! Stop hiding behind your ability!"

Remember what I said about you, Azazel, you worthless ferret. Navomi's voice crept into his mind, making it harder for him to concentrate. Within seconds, both the cats and Ender had gotten close enough to where running was no longer an option.

"Five years is a long time to hold a grudge. Azazel Halsen Witicker, are you prepared to truly die?"