The Hovering Ingress: The Hidden World

Chapter 48

Shock

Five Sune Cycles Later

The sound of Marsh running up to the cage sounded in Xengu's ears, making her growl and sit up. By time, couldn't she at least get some sleep? With an angered sigh the panther put a hand to her head and stumbled up. Lately she had been getting a headache and was told to lay off on the meat, for it could have been too much of the blood. The group hadn't seen Raid or Crackle in ages, and they were starting to think they were dead. Those two were the only ones who seemed sensible enough to make sure everything was well with the felines.

Looking to the panting lynx, she sent a glare and lashed her tail.

"What is it now?" she growled with irritation.

"I don't know, but there are ophoree coming. Surely it's way too early for food?" Marsh rumbled nervously.

"Yeah, way too early, I'm not even hungry," Favi grumbled as she came up to the two.

"Let's wait and see, maybe they're just checking up on us," Jasar suggested.

The group agreed and watched the cage with hesitance and fear. They didn't know why Marsh sounded the alarm when it was taking the ophoris so long to come inside. After a long time of bickering and complaining, they turned and watched as two ophoree entered the room. They could see another figure with them, but they couldn't make out what.

The others looked anxiously to Xengu as the ophoree left the figure there and left the room. Quietly she nodded her head and let out a rumble, urging the group to head on without her. Favi decided to stick to the winged panther's side as the two males quickly ran down toward the figure. They could hear small exclamations coming from the two as they started heading back, a lot more slowly. The two females raised an eyebrow at each other before turning to watch as the two males came back, panting a little. Seeing the person with them, they both yowled.

"LATIF?!" Favi shrieked.

"Ow, could you not scream so loudly? Who is that?" the young lynx cub asked, his originally pale irises fully black.

"T-that was Favi, don't you remember her?" Marsh asked.

"Oh, you mean Sand."

The group froze in place, staring at the young cub in great confusion.

"W-where did you learn that name from?" Favi stuttered.

"Morfran told me. I think it suits you anyway. Grainy, uncomfortable, and a dirty mouth."

"Excuse me?!"

"Quiet down, Favi. L-Latif, how did you get here?" Marsh asked.

"A patrol of Sinisters rescued me from the wharg dergou, then took me to see Morfran himself. He said I would be a very helpful person," Latif explained.

"Rescued?" Xengu echoed.

"I-I think he meant stolen," Jasar mumbled.

"I wasn't stolen! I just needed a place to really let myself be who I should be," the cub snapped, whipping around to the cat.

There was a while of silence that went between the group. Finally, Favi let out a shrill hiss, her eyes wide as she stared at the ground.

"Blackwood."

"What?" Xengu mumbled.

"Oh, you met Blackwood too? Good, this shows my brother's friends aren't nearly as dumb as I was dreading," Latif purred. "Er, almost all of them."