Sometime during the night, Lina felt Neero slip out of her arms. Cracking an eye the slightest bit, she watched the black and orange cat trot off into the forest. It was odd though; she'd never heard of a male calico...However, her tired mind wouldn't let her continue that thought process and her eyes slowly slipped shut.
Said cat disappeared between two bushes, trotting his way to a certain spot a good distance away from the camp. As soon as he reached his destination, he looked up. "It's about time Satumo. I've been waiting." Dinenda hopped down off of his branch and stood in front of the cat. Pushing off of his front legs, said cat balanced on his hind legs before quickly shifting into a dull, black blur...and then re-emerging as his formal male self. Well, formal naked male self that is.
"Sorry," Satumo finally answered, picking some leaves out of his hair. "I had to wait for them to fall completely asleep."
"Satumo, please. Put something on. If you get sick or anything like that then you'll be useless in combat. Besides, I prefer to look at women without apparel...not men." Dinenda answered back gruffly, crossing his arms.
Blushing lightly, Satumo closed his eyes a moment and his clothing from before phased onto him, all the loops and buckles in place. After that, Dinenda sat on some nearby rocks and Satumo followed suit. Silence ensued for a few minutes before the elder finally spoke. "You do know that the sorceress you were snuggling up against was Lina Inverse, don't you?"
"That is Lina Inverse!?" Earning a few glares from his mentor's direction, Satumo lowered his tone. "That little girl is the Lina Inverse? The dramatta? Enemy of all that lives??"
"One in the same."
"Why didn't you tell me this before!"
"You didn't ask."
"@#^*% Dinenda! if you're going to be my teacher, you have to tell me these things!"
Dinenda snapped the twig he was idly fidgeting with in half. "Look, boy. I never wanted to be your teacher. I only did this because the Empress asked me to tutor both you and Ranule. So I'm trying my best to make a decent warrior out of you since you lack the full magic capabilities your brother has. I didn't think it was important whether or not she was the dramatta. Even if she wasn't you should show the same lever of caution."
Chastized, Satumo lowered his head humbly. "Yes sir..." Turning to glance back at the camp, he frowned a little. "I better get back...she might notice I've been gone too long.
"I thought you said she was asleep." Dinenda narrowed his eyes and folded his arms once again across his chest.
"She was, but her watch is in a few minutes." Clothes phazing away once more, Satumo reverted back to his cat form and started back towards camp.
"The plan is the same...oh, and Satumo?" At Dinenda calling his name, Satumo/Neero looked back to see the elder smirking at him. "Try not to enjoy yourself too much in her arms."
Nodding, Satumo/Neero trotted off once again. Dinenda chuckled. He could have sworn he saw a blush beneath all that fur. Shaking his head, he phazed out, only to appear once more on the branch overlooking the camp; Satumo soon appeared and crawled back into Lina's bedroll...just in time before the chimera walked over and shook her arm to get her up for her watch.
Despite his earlier words, Dinenda nodded; Satumo would make a fine warrior when he was finished with him.
Zelgadiss had noticed the cat's exit earlier and had found it a curiousity, bot nothing suspicious. It was an animal; it probably had to do...well, whatever animals do. After a while, the cat came back and immediately crawled into Lina's bedroll. It appeared to be quite smitten with her. Shaking it off, Zel walked over and shook Lina's arm.
The red-head grumbled and turned away from the nudging; Zel shook harder...and got a fits in his nose for his troubles.
"owowowowowowowowowowow!!" Lina immediately sat up and shook her hand fiercly. Zel rubbed his nose.
"Serves you right; its your watch." he muttered, and then crawled into bed. Despite having stone skin that hurt a little.
Grumping, Lina picked up Neero and set him on her lap as she took watch. Scratching his around the ears, he was soon purring loudly, eyes clowed and in all appearance to be asleep. His purring was broken in a ways...almost sounding like he was holding in laughter; but that was silly. Lina smiled. At least something was friendly tonight.
In the morning, after breakfast, the group moved on towards their unknown southern destination Neero never went more then two feet from Lina's side. After a while, he had managed to settle himself on Lina's shoulder, enjoying the vantage point. Lina smiled; Neero had fattened up just a little from the night before and that was good. She was in the process of figuring out how much upkeep it took to own a cat when a dark feeling rushed into her entire being.
Stopping suddenly, she glanced around, wondering where such a feeling from was coming from. Her actions hadn't gone unnoticed. "What's wrong Lina?" Gourry had noticed her glancing around and started to look too, but he couldn't see anything. "What are you looking for?"
"I don't know..." Okay, she was getting really creeped out now. "But something's coming.."
"#@^#$&!!"
Lina couldn't help but blink as the cat on her shoulder...cursed? Not able to react right away, Lina just stood there as Neero lept off of her shoulder guards and onto the back of her hair. The initial shock and weight of the cat now hanging from her hair forced the sorceress's head back, exposing her forehead, face and throat to the world. There was a minute blue of black in her vision before a man appeared out of no where directly in front of her. Lina then felt hands tugging, painfully I might add, at the circlet on her forehead. She was vaguely aware that the tugging on her hair had stopped and there was a new set of hands holding her shoulders still. She could also hear Gourry and Zel yelling...and Amelia, oddly enough, screaming.
Finally gaining her senses, Lina took advantage of the hands holding her shoulders, using them to balance as she lifted both legs and planted them right in the chest of the man tugging at her forehead. As that one went back a few steps, Gourry was soon upon him, trying with all his might to inflict some kind of wound with his sword.
Amelia was still screaming and when Lina glanced over she noticed the princess blushing and covering her eyes. Well...that was curious. Struggling even harder within her captor's grip, she manages to look back and see the cause of Amelia's screaming.
There was a naked man holding her.
"PERVERT!!" Leaning forward, Lina swung her head back at the man and felt it connect with something behind her. Despite everying swirling in front of her eyes, Lina still felt the hands instantly let go. Jumping away quickly as she could, Lina swumg around to see the naked man clutching his forhead and swearing.
Glancing over at Gourry, she noticed that the man that had been grabbing at her forehead was doing a fair job of dodging Gourry's thrusts. White hair flowing, he turned his gaze to just behind where Lina was standing. "Satumo! How many times do I have to remind you! ARMOR!" He then turned back to Gourry, snarling almost like a wild animal might. A staff suddenly appeared in his hands and he bagain to take the offensive, forcing Gourry to take steps back.
Liona prepared a fireball as she turned back to Satumo. Just in time to see the armor phaze from nowhere onto his being, she wasted no time to fling the fire spell at him. "FIRE BALL!" Satumo grimaced and phazed out of the way, phazing back in only about a foot away. however, he wasn't focused on Lina. "Dinenda! Behind you!"
Dinenda was still fending off Gourry when he turned just in time to defend himself from an attack by Zelgadiss from behind. Instantly, Satumo was off before Lina could blink. He was even faster than Zel! Of which, Satumo tackled and Dinenda was allowed to resume his previous fight.
Blow for blow, Dinenda blocked everything Gourry threw at him. That is, until Gourry slipped in his own defense. Thrusting forwards, Dinenda landed a blow directly in the swordsman's gut, making him double over. Upon that opportunity, the warrior thrust a knee upwards, connecting it with his jaw and sending Gourry sprawling on his back. "You were a formidable opponent," Dinenda stood to his full height and set his staff at his side, "but no match for a seasoned warrior."
After giving his final words to his fallen opponent, Dinenda looked around for his young pupil. Finding him equally engaged in a high-speed swordfight with the chimera, he smirked. At least he was occupied; where was that girl??
"Halt!" Satumo and Zel were too busy in their battle to hear Amelia, but Dinenda did look up to tree whehre the voice originated. "Enemy's of justice! By the holy powers of righteousness that flow through my veins, I will punish yo-!" Amelia's speech was cut off by a hand clamped on her throat. What the? Glancing back, the princess saw Dinenda frowning directly behind her. How the heck did he get up here so quickly!?"
"Quiet whelp. Where is Lina Inverse?" Dinenda's voice was a harsh growl, full of ice. He was getting tired of this. He was about ready to just execute them all. Tightening his grip, he hpped down from the tree with Amelia in tow. Glancing over at Zel and Satumo's fight, he gritted his teeth. "ENOUGH!" The warrior's bellow echoed loudly throughout the area, causing Satumo and Zelgadiss to pause in their battle. Seeing the situation, Satumo bowed towards Zel and walked over to join Dinenda's side. The whole while his eyes never left Zel's.
Zel finally recognized those eyes. The glaring silver eyes from the tavern; the one that made the threats. If tlooked like he was trying ot make good on his word. Dinenda just looked angry.
"Where is Lina Inverse?" he growled, tightening his grip on Amelia's throat. "Hand over Lina Inverse or the girl dies!" the princess whimpered loudly, blocking most sound out...but Dinenda didn't miss the words floating on the wind.
"Darkness beyond twighlight,
Crimson beyond blood that flows;
Buried in the sands of time..."
Amelia stopped whimpering and stared a moment before struggling violently. Breaking free, she covered her hears and began to run. "Not again!" Zel ran over and grabbed Gourry's unconcious self, taking cover. He knew what ws happening; however, he had no pity for the two just standing and listening to the words.
"..is where your power grows!
I pledge myself to conquer,
all the foes who stand,
against the mighty gift bestowed,
In my unworthy hand!!
DRAGON SLAVE!!!"
Dinenda spotted Lina just as the blinding red energy came surging at them. Soon, everything was bathed in burning heat.
"HAH!! That's what you get for trying to take on Lina Inverse!" Lina crowed, kicking some dust at the smoldering and well-cleared area. Amelia cheered and Zel tried to wake Gourry up. As the blonde started to stir, Zel heard Amelia gasp and looked up to see what she was staring at.
As the smoke started to clear, two figures could be seen crouched amid the rubble. Flinging his cloak away from him, a barrier of black energy disappated; standing, he brushed some dust off that had fallen onto his clothes. Satumo was kneeling, his arms outstretched in front of him. As soon as he stood and put his arms down, a barrier of his own disappated. Dinenda smirked. "Is that all the great Lina Inverse has to offer?"
Lina stood, shocked. She then did something she hadn't done in a long while. She ran. She needed some time to regroup and plan...this wasn't just a simple blow-them-up-and-leave job. Running over to where the rest of the group was, she paused and grabbed one of Gourry's arms. "Zel! Get his other arm!" Zelgadiss quickly complied and the three cast Ray Wing, sending themselves speeding away.
Dinenda cursed, and loud. Satumo blinked. "What's wrong? The won't get far and we can catch up to them easily."
The elder warrior pushed his cap back irritably, turning to the younger. "Look where we are," he accented his words with a sweep of his hand, "and look where they're heading." And at that Dinenda sped off at a demonic run. Satumo glanced around and a sudden realization came to him. "@#$&*!" Tossing his ponytail back, the young warrior raced after his mentor.
Lina looked back in her flight and noticed two figures speeding along the ground in their direction, glosing the gap. She then spotted a fairly well-disguised cave no too far below. A strange feeling washed over her suddenly; she had to get to that cave. "Head down! We need to go there!" piont on for a moment with her finger, she then dove, forcing the others to come with her.
"Why there Lina?" Zel argued. "They can get us more easily in there!" Lina shook her head vigorously, only speeding up until they slipped within the small entrance of the cave. Landing, she sighed in relief. "We're safe. They can't come in here."
"How do you know Miss Lina?" Amelia walked over to Gourry and shook him a little, trying to wake him fully.
Glancing down further into the cave, Lina gathered a light spell within her hand and glanced back. "I just know. Get Gourry fully awake. What we're looking for is further down this cave."
Satumo found his mentor, standing and glaring at a cave opening, half-covered by vegetation. "Where are they?"
Dinenda turned for a moment and then motioned towards the cave. "They're in there."
Satumo glanced at the cave. "Why don't we just go in?" Stepping forward, Dinenda's voice stopped him.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you."
Not sure why Dinenda would just let an enemy get away, he started walking to the cave. Reachign forward into the cave with his arm, Satumo felt a surge of electricity run through his whole body. Not being able to hold back his scream, he was stuck where he was for a few minutes before being thrown back. Sweat dripping from his face and his arm limp at his side, the young warrior glanced back at Dinenda.
"I told you you shouldn't; we can't go in there." he grumbled, turnming to a tree and punching it in half. After a few more minutes of silence, he finally spoke again. "Report to the Empress of our failure. They've reached the first gate."