The Last Days of Atlantis (35)

Dawn crested the watery horizons of Atlantis when the messenger arrived from Miss Hope with the news of Lord Kestrel’s removal from Atlantis. Sert sat with the remaining three of us, reading the message to all of us. Silence reigned around the dinning room over our untouched breakfast meal. I avoided looking at them while thought flooded their mind at the fact Kestrel had been removed by those that had sent him here.

“If we petition Odin? Or the other deities?” Meli suggested suddenly. Sert’s and Cole’s head snapped up and turned to look at her. I know what they were thinking and knew I would have to crush this hope within them.

“We send word out to the people of what has happen and request they all implore their deities to intercede in Kestrel’s favor.” Cole replied quickly.

“Lord Kestrel’s name will be in their thoughts, on their lips, and in their hearts as they beseech all the deities for his return to us.” Sert added with a triumphant smile.

“It will fail.” I grumbled softly. I did not look away from my plate as a growl had replaced my normal background purring. “Our Heart and Queen stands above them all.” I reminded them. “Petition her for Lord Kestrel’s return since she is the one that had him sent away.” I concluded. They could see my shoulders hunched, trembling, as I sat gazing blindly at my plate of untouched food. I feared my eyes would betray my ruse I placed in my words.

“The people have started fearing her in her madness.” Cole returned slowly. Realization started dawning in his mind about this possibility failing. “None would willingly call upon a mad woman to save them.” he added softly and dejected.

“But they will cal for the son of Madness and Passion?” I retorted with a growling snort. “Then we are forced to save ourselves without the deities’ hand to interfere.” I growled. My plate flew across the room before I stormed away from them. The heard the main door to our house slam shut loudly followed by silence. I stood in perfect silence at the side of the opening to the dining room, listening to their words.

“We are truly idiotic.” Meli stated under her breath. “Talking like we are while not realizing how hurt young Kestrel is feeling.” she explained. A sigh escaped the men at the table.

“He was Kestrel’s shadow.” Sert commented.

“Anywhere Kestrel went, Redpath would follow somehow since he was a kitten.” Cole replied. “He even sneaked into the Council Chambers with Kestrel and no one knew but me.” he added so softly.

“And now Kestrel is somewhere that he cannot follow and continue protecting him.” Meli continued. I could sense the sadness slowly weighing them down. “It must be driving him mad with frustration of not being at Kestrel’s side.” she added. I nodded my head before silently leaving for real.

I did feel bad having to lie to them but for all the others to believe Kestrel has been removed, I had to maintain this painful lie to them. Cole would get a notice to head out to visit Ambassador Rosalia within this week keeping him safely away from what was to come. This was the trap to draw in Callistra onto Atlantis and end her plans permanently. I thought I would feel rage at his half-sister but I felt calm thinking of destroying her. As I paced the street feigning angry annoyance, I felt the twin primordial dragons swirling around Atlantis in the same pattern they had upon the ring. They waited patiently for their orders to either crush the land under Atlantis to sink it or hold it up until I succeeded in my duties.

“Patience!” I mentally ordered them. I received a mental nod from both in return. Their ephemeral form glided in the space where water and earth met as they spiraled. “If I need time, hold the central core above the waves until I can end this part of the plan.” I informed them. I received flashes of their memories of the torture they suffered at her hands. Their growl matched mine as I felt no doubt that she needed to be destroyed. I also received visions all the times Genin saved them from Genia’s twisted form of kindness. He could not harm her because of a promise to his mother, but I was not held back by this promise. “She will not survive beyond the day she sets feet upon my island.” I assured them in a deep mental growl. She was the true opposite of Kestrel and had done her last evil deed towards existence.

It would be a week before Callistra’s bomb went off. I had been stalking Peregrine during that week while listening to the darkening rumors. With the destruction of Lemuria at the Queen’s own hands, an air of death had fallen upon the citizens of Atlantis. Even Munin had ran away from Atlantis during this week as his concubines were left behind. Many of the foreigners added to the list of people evacuating during that last week. Word of the Queen’s insane actions, Her rebuking Lord Kestrel, and lying about all of it, had the foreigners and non-humans leaving in droves. I quickly had Shal, Siren, and the other abandoned concubines moved to a place closer to the harbor and arranged a ship ready to take them away as the first signs of Atlantis sinking.

Chichi remained manning the Royal Kitchen while his staff was moody and unmotivated. Nightingale had sent her trio of retinue away the day after Kestrel died using the excuse of his reported removal as reason enough for her. The world pulled away from Atlantis as if a mist had risen to cloud it from their mind. It was already being turned into a legend thanks to the Secret Faeries. I did not let a sign of mirth show on my face as I shifted forms and faces while keeping Genia’s bomb under surveillance. I did notice Sert and Meli searching for me to ask for my forgiveness to their stupid comments. I did not reveal myself to them, they needed to think I vanished into the shadows trying to find my own way to reach Kestrel or abandoned Atlantis for Dia’s kingdom.

As the week was coming to an end, a decree that was mostly ignored come from Annianka. She ordered the Royal Guards to kill any that approached her Royal Tower. She claimed all of Atlantis had become her enemy and the enemy of the Heartstone itself. This was received by the Atlantians as their mind believed this fact and most moved to the outer rings of Atlantis. The Royal Guards obeyed by simply making sure she could see no one from her prison. Miss Hope sealed the door and joined in the patrols to protect the citizens from her misplaced rage caused by her insanity. And Peregrine’s daily walking pattern changed as this happened.

He was heading directly towards the forbidden weapon that had crushed Lemuria. The Guards did not even realize what was happening as they fell to his swift surprise attacks. I did not prevent him from doing this. I simply followed in the shadows as he did another thing he had no knowledge about. He set the controls of the device to target Atlantis itself. His hand hovered over the crystal button to activate the device as I sense him resisting this final action. His head snapped to one side as blood dribbled from his ears, nostrils, and bubbled out of his mouth as he fell forward to slam down upon the button.

The first tremors made everyone panic as they started rushing towards the harbor. The dolphin shriek madly as they emptied the pools around Atlantis made for them to visit the citizens. Realization was slow at how truly bad things were turning but the Guards and my friends worked together to get them upon ships and out to sea. The outer rings started collapsing first moving inwards as those that had not boarded ships were forced to pull back. I warned the dragons to hold firm keeping the central rings above the waves. Part of it would keep some alive on the outer edge while I could deal with Genia in the central zone by the Heartstone. The growling reply from the dragons was both their acceptance and my warning. She was here.

I reached to open spot between the Heartstone and Annianka’s tower. The Queen was stumbling around lost in her delusions as she faced off with Genia in her Callistra form. I duplicated myself having my echo become my feline form while I took Chichi’s appearance. I knew, with a quick mental check, that he was assisting in the evacuations with Meli, Sert, Nightingale, the Royal Guards, and the Council Guards. I moved my echo into position while I watched the events closely.

“No Royal Consort of the worm Munin shall ever sit upon the throne of Atlantis!” Annianka screamed at Genia. “She is using the power of Atlantis against me.” she muttered loudly to herself. The sneer of disgust on Callistra’s face at been confused with a common concubine was priceless to me. This, unfortunately, showed how lost she was within the delusion that thing in the Heartstone had over her. A bolt of black energy formed in Genia’s fist before launching toward the lost Queen. She did not even try to dodge the attack, walking directly into the bolt. Her body was tossed back from the strike to slam against the broken walls of her tower.

“Silly broken thing.” Callistra cackled at her. She stepped directly toward Annianka. “Once you are gone, I will shatter that Heartstone and destroy everything including the Balance shard within it.” she threatened. She raised her hand to create another bolt of negative energy to slaughter Annianka. “Goodbye Joy!” she interjected. She released the bolt as I stepped into the path, catching her attack in a hand easily.

“Not nice hitting someone when they are down, sister.” I replied wit a sneer. I absorbed the bolt in to my hand and body. “Too bad this body is not as easy to run as my own.” I added. Even she had been lied to about this situation. She was attacking Hope and not Joy. She believe the vanished shard, Balance, sat here in the Heartstone terminating any chance they could ever be one again. I felt pleasure seeing how she was as deluded about everything nearly as badly as Annianka herself.

“Using that fool’s body will not stop me from killing your shards of light here in Atlantis.” she screeched back at me.

“Thank you for coming, my love.” Annianka whispered. And consciousness left her a crumpled mess by the wall. I started moving at Genia while my furry echo moved into a closer position while staying hidden.

“Do you believe that destroying the HeartStone will kill what is within it?” I asked calmly.

“We will not know until I blow this island out of existence, will we?” she returned bluntly. Her cold sneer and blazing eyes proved that none of my words would reach her. She did this to spite me, anger me, hurt me. How little she truly knew Genin, or me.

“You will only release a monster upon this world.” I answered. “You will release my wife’s murderer.” I added hoping this might have her faltering in her next attack. The maniacal laugh erupted from her as black crackling energy formed around both her fists. With a double punch motion, the bolts fired directly at me. My duplicate moved with his unnatural feline speed to block the negative energy projectiles path. They hit him directly in his chest as he is tossed back into my arms. “No more!” I growled.

One step forward had my pawed fist striking across her cheek. A fist wreathed with solar flames drove deep into her solarplexis. Twin stars spun willy in both my amber feline eyes while my body shifted fully into Kestrel’s form. My fist wreathed with solar flame and nebular lightning as I pushed her back toward the edge of the open section. My clawed hand grasped her by the throat as I pinned her against a broken wall.

My other hand reached back as my cat claws popped out fully. They were blazing like comets as I slashed at her body merciless to cause her all the pain she had inflicted to others. My grip at her throat tighten into a straggling grip as I rose her to stand straight. My other hand went back and closed upon the hilt of the Sword of Light. I drew it into existence in this place as I growled deeply at her. Her eyes were fluttering as she noticed what I held. I drove the blade into her vile heart and deep into the broken wall.

“Have you forgotten your oath to mother?” she hissed out to me. I smiled as my new cosmic feline form filled with liquid night skies, 3 sets of stardust wings sprung from my back, and the white robes flowed along the lines of my much larger body.

“I forget nothing, foolish child.” I growled at her. Her eyes grew wide as she realized what stood before her. “Genin did leave a parting message for you Genia.” I whispered as my growl turned into a pleased purr. I grinned at her my nose nearly touching hers. “How does it feel to have a bit of Balance in you before you truly die?” I asked in a purring arrogant whisper.

“No!” she screamed before the white flames erupted over her body. Her form as Callistra was being consumed first before the flames turned true black removing her immortal spirit from existence. I pulled the shining sword from the wall after she was gone. A flick of my wrist had it slipped back in place within the pillar of light housing the rest of the Ley’ä’Luna. I held my cosmic force reaching out with my mind to touch the last remaining beings alive upon Atlantis. None of them would escape if I did not interfere this one last time.

The spiraling dragons’ speed increased as they pulled Atlantis to the bottom of the seas and deeper with their vortex. Portals open under the feet and fallen bodies of the living safely pulling them away from the disaster. The ships that had escaped on the breezes from Cassis held those that I did not need to assist as I myself sunk with the city under the waves. Lady Nightingale, Sert, and Meli looked upon the empty sea that once was their shining island home. Atlantis was gone and they were now all refugees sailing towards Africa’s southern tip where Aurora had already made arrangement for them to be spread out in groups around the world to help educate and make the world grow along the proper path.

“One life can be wasted from my nine so a part of me remains with the ruins hidden away.” I stated. My feet touched the bottom of the ocean while Atlantis slipped deeper to disappear. An echo of myself formed and collapsed sinking into the mire of ocean soil. My other form raised skyward but my body had been left behind with that echo that died for and with Atlantis. I crossed the skies heading to Egypt to my niece. My last duty was to tell her of her mother’s death at my hands and how Genin had stolen her away to protect her from her mother, Genia.

I did make one stop first not counting my echoes upon the edge of South America. A large group of Atlantian refugees stood by Chichi as they tried understand how they had end up there. They had been spread out along the outer remaining rings while Chichi had been scavenging for provisions to feed them. And the next moment they were on the this unknown rocky beach as waves slowly lapped at the shore. I appeared and floated to him as the refugees of Atlantis cleared a path for me.

“I bring you your last orders.” I stated in a hollow voice. My feline body shimmered and seemed partially transparent to their eyes. “Head northward to the place you will feel the energies of heaven and hell making war at their gates.” I explained to all of them. “You will also feel my presence within the earth and air of this place keeping both at bay behind their barred gates.” I continued as a few nodded their understanding. “Make this place a bastion for Atlantis by covering it with a mystic network from the minds and hands of your healers.”

“We will die long before reaching this place Lord Kestrel of the Redpath.” one survivor muttered.

“We shall never be able to accomplish this task, sir.” another added softly. They looked crushed under this command I had given them. My feet touched the ground as I place a gentle paw on the cheeks of the two that had spoken. I lifted their face to look into my eyes.

“Your bodies may die, but your spirits will know my words and recognize your Atlantian brothers and sisters.” I informed them in a soft purring voice that echoed around all of them. “With each rebirth, you continue moving towards this point to create this wondrous bastion for the return of the true Queen and Princess.” I explained to all of them. “Have faith in what sits deep inside each of you and know I have faith in all of you.” I continued. “Nothing you do will end in a failure in my eyes.” I added specifically to those two that had spoken.

“What of our other brothers and sisters that survived?” a different one asked. She was a mother and her child sail on a ship with Nightingale.

“They shall receive their orders in dreams and know what they must do to create their own bastion for a future where Atlantis returns to protect all of us.” I answered. “Many spirits lay trapped with Atlantis where it rest below the ocean waves.” I warn them. “When Atlantis return, those will be reborn once more in this world. “Their wait will be very long, but you will all be able to return to Atlantis one day.” I concluded. They looked at each other as the eyes sparkled with life again. In one voice they agreed to the task placed upon them. I bowed formally to all of them before drifting aside with Chichi.

“Help them little brother.” I ordered. “When your true land calls, heed it since others will be in place to continue encouraging them.” I explained.

“By your command, Brother Order.” Chichi replied. We bowed to each other before he returned to start organizing them to erect a temporary camp and to collect needed supplies for their coming trip. I took one last look over all of them before dissipating this echos from here. My true self stood with Muse since I had a few last requests for Muse. I lowered myself before her in the bow of a begging dragon child to her. I then ask that she send messages in their dreams to keep them all strong and walking the path towards righteousness and light until I was to be awaken again. Her silvery giggled told me without words that she accepted without any more explanations. I then requested she sent me a dream in each my future lives to remind me that she is still working to keep the dream of true peace alive. She kissed my furry head and whispered her agreement and her love for my noble spirit. I was then back upon the sky path to Egypt. All my copies had disappeared and returned to me as I landed before her home. She was smiling at me as I stood looking into her eyes.

“Your mind is very open to me, little cat, including my Uncle’s memories.” she stated. I nodded but said nothing as I allowed her to see everything including her true birth. “I have seen the evil my true mother has wrought upon the beings of the universe and understand why my Uncle removed me to this place.” she said calmly.

“I am happy you accept what has happened.” I returned in an empty tone.

“Her death could not be averted without cursing this world into decay and self destruction.” she replied with a sigh. “Are you ready to become two separate beings while your true self is sealed away indefinitely?” she asked smiling. I nodded yes as she stepped closer to me. “You will always be forgiven no matter what you do for the greater good.” she added in a whisper. I smiled as I felt my mind spiraling through shadows into darkness

...

“Wait, where am I?” I asked as I now stood within the Temple of Light but no sound met my ears. I cloaked figure move to me, taking hand in his liquid blackness hand, he pulled me toward the pillar and through it into an odd place. I knew this was the Void himself showing me something in the frozen moment between seconds of my being sealed away. The land we floated over was pockmarked and some still smoked from the destructive force that had struck it. Flashes of dark light followed by explosive thunder was trailing parallel to our flight path. We arrived to the edge of green valley to see a small blob-like humanoid form of liquid night skies filled with all the cosmic elements laying there. He stood slowly as the blasts approached toward the other end of the green patch. A little girl about the same size as the first child appeared on the field. She had indigo and dark blue tones of scales on her body with blazing purple eyes. They fell upon the first boy I had seen and rushed at him with black fire blazing at her tightly balled fists. She screamed incoherently as she charged with flames spreading from her fist to wreath her fully small body.

The boy stood staring as she charged at him. Her steps faltered then stopped as she stood face to face with the boy. Her eyes grew wide showing the black sclera surrounding her blazing purple eyes. Her angry battle screams shifted into giggles and laughter of happiness as she started dancing around the other child. The flames had disappeared as she twirled in a frenzy of elation I could feel were I floated witnessing this meeting. She rushed up to take the blob child’s hands into hers as her eyes locked on his twin star spinning eyes.

“Me Genin?” she asked softly. She was trembling with excitement and worry. “Me Genin?” she asked louder. I could feel her fear, her despair, and her utter confusion. The boy shook his head rapidly as truly awaking before his eyes looked into hers.

“Me Lyra?” he asked softly. Shock, disbelief, and happiness filled this boy as he looked the little girl over. “Me Lyra!” he screamed tossing his arms around her neck. She shrieked back merrily as they hugged.

“Me Genin came back to me.” she giggled. They started dancing around holding hands. “No more being alone.” she added before pulling him into another tight hug. They returned to dancing in circle until the both feel to the grassy ground laughing. We floated higher and I could see that everything outside this patch of greenery was blasted desolated landscape. My guide, the Void, must have hear my deep harsh hiss at this scene.

“She has been very angry without him.” the cloak being explained in a gentle musical voice. He floated us back down to see them tightly pressed together while lying on the grass. I could see their chests rising and falling in the exhausted sleep that had taken them. “Even after all those many millenniums apart, they still remember how deeply they always loved each other.” he added in his more musical voice.

“Elyria and Genin reunited at last after all the pain they both suffered being apart.” I replied softly to him. “Is this the prize for all their actions?” I asked. I could not hold back the tears of joy I cried seeing them together again after their final death. The musical chuckle had me turning to face my guide as we drifted back towards a beam of light. The face under the hood took shape of bones while the hand that guided me turn to skeletal reality. The bony face crinkled into a wink as a skeletal finger crossed his lips.

“Would a father let his son feel such deep pain without giving him a reward he most deeply deserves?” he asked in musical whisper. I nodded smiling brushing the tears of joy from my eyes. “And how better than to give them an eternal childhood together.” he continued. “Best this gets locked away with everything else, but know that I will be singing to all that fall around you, my second son, KreGenin.” he added as we slipped through the light.

I floated back into the instant that this complete version of me was being hidden away while I lived multiple double lives until that future date. One last flash of memory or vision appeared in my mind. The ornate pouch holding the active shard of the Heartstone was stitched to the boy’s waist unable to ever be opened again. She had lost her edge and her immortality. Genin had saved us all and never knew it as I knew we could defeat her now much easier.

On that date, I will be named Kestrel George Wrightman, but would eventually be known as Kestrel Redpath, soldier and heroic were-panther still trying to save the world. But, I will also be someone else, a shadow that knows the whole story but remains silent as they move the pieces I cannot reach into place. We will reunite as we face her upon the last battle field to opened a new path all are blind about existing. Goodbye, and I will see all of you in that new future, my friends.

Signed: Lord Kestrel of the Redpath clan, Immortal Knight of Diadem, New Brother Order, Great Lord KreGenin.

 

La Fin, pour maintenant. (The End, for now.)

Funeral Announcements (34)

In a small Egyptian village of no renown, an echo of myself manifested at the small gate by a very normal looking abode. A woman that has aged since her short time selling meat sticks with her husband in Atlantis sat quietly by the edge of the door. I opened the gate to start down the pathway as she rose to move slowly forward to meet what appeared as the Kestrel she knew well. Her husband had moved to stop her suddenly as his eyes were locked with mine. He saw how I had cat’s eyes instead of the eyes of a raptor bird. He stood protectively in front of her as I felt her mind reach out to touch mine. The most gentle touch of her mind had her recoiling from me.

“How did he die?” she screamed at me. Her eyes had filled with tears as I slowly stepped forward to lock arms with her husband. She angrily pushed her husband aside to grapple at my shoulders.

“Be calm, dear niece.” I whispered into her mind. “I will show and tell you all once we three are alone.” I informed her but it was too late. She ripped the memories from my mind while I allowed her remaining passive towards her invasion. I did showed her my discussion with Miss Hope and how I stood in Atlantis while also being before her. She fell against me as my arms held her sobbing tightly against me. She sobbed and screamed at her loss while her husband rubbed her back as I kept her standing.

“I came to tell you but also because I will need your gifts that our family shares.” I whispered to her. She sniffled before looking up at me. “I must split my mind and hide all the information from the past until the time comes that I must rise once more as Genin’s Order.” I explained to her slowly. “His love for you exist within me to make me stand as your Uncle, whenever you need me, little one.” I concluded softly to her.

“Your mind is strange to me but not the mind of a stranger.” she replied. I wiped the tears from her eyes. “I thank you for offering to stand as he did even if it is not because you bear his mantle of duty and dignity.” she continued softly. She pushed herself an arm length from me to curtsy to me. I smiled answering her curtsy with a formal and fluid Egyptian bow. We entered her home as I explained to her the details of what would soon come and how I will return for her to seal away my mind even from myself. I left them as the sun set upon her village.

* * *

At the same moment within the hidden mound of the Secret Faeries, Serena sat trying to play a flute to accompany her cousin. My form appeared as Kestrel to them as both froze as they felt my presence. I walked towards them in a slow pace as they finally looked at each other as if disbelieving their own eyes. I moved until I stood before were they sat with their instruments.

“In the name of Atlantis and the world, I must ask an insane request from both of you.” I stated softly.

“Name it and we will make it happen, Lord Kestrel.” she replied happily. She stood to curtsy to me but her cousin only bowed while remaining sitting. He had sensed the difference in me but still respected my words enough to listen.

“I wish you watch the spirits that depart Atlantis.” I told them. “At any sign of of oddness, cloud their minds of the outside world, even upon Annianka.” I explained my request. “One sign of this oddness will be the belief in a winged wolf that never existed.” I concluded. Her eyes tightened as well as his as they both looked at me closely. The air around sparkled as I easily created a cosmic ward preventing other to see us. I let my form shift into my feline shape before sliding into my new cosmic representation.

“The one known as Lord Kestrel is no more, passing down all he has ever been into me.” I mentally told them. “This secret must be kept until I must face the entity infecting the Heartstone and making delusions push into our reality.” I continued. They glanced once more at each other before nodding to me to continue while remaining silent. “Since it bend reality into fantasies, I wish to lead it out of the stone into a delusion of my choosing to be its final prison.” I concluded.

“He who has freed us deserve to be given favors for the benefit of Atlantis and the World.” Serena replied softly. I returned into my Kestrel form and dismissed the cosmic wards.

“You may not truly look like him, but your honor cannot be questioned.” her cousin stated. He nodded towards Serena with a smile of agreement.

“Your words are like his own in our ears, Lord Kestrel of the Redpath.” she added. She smiled and nodded to me. Her cousin raised to his feet to stand beside her as she curtsied and he bowed to me in formal fairy fashion. I slid back into my feline form as she tossed herself around my neck. I felt her tear soaking through my fur at my chest. I held her gently as she mourned for Kestrel death not fully understanding that it was true death that had claimed him. She pulled back after a few minutes, gazing red eyed at me while mouthing the words ‘thank you’. She took a deep breath before sitting and bringing the flute to her lips. As her first note whistled out, the sound of the ocarina at my lips joined in. Her cousin sat slowly and added softly plucked notes from his hand harp. A slow sad song formed from our trio to commemorate the passing of Lord Kestrel. The last notes had my form dissipating from there, leaving only his ocarina behind as proof I had ever visited them.

* * *

Chichi raged had suddenly erupted as he chased everyone out of his kitchen locked them out. I appeared as myself, walking from between two cupboards set half into a solid wall. He glared at me while I easily pulled out a bottle of his finest wine from one of his many hiding spots. Using my index claw, I popped open the bottle holding it out to him.

“I had hoped this stomach twisting feeling was only indigestion.” he stated as he took the bottle. He took a deep drink before looking at me again. “So boss?” he interjected. He held the bottle out to me that I quickly took to share a drink with him. “What’s the new plan?’ he asked. We had lowered to sit on the floor passing the bottle between us for us to drink.

“Business as usual.” I replied. “I will not be able to truly recognize any of you after Atlantis sinks.” I warned him softly. “Order must disappear from the memories of this world until it can be purged in the distant future.” I divulged to him.

“Will we still recognize each other as friends?” he asked. His eyes were filled with unshed tears.

“Always!” I interjected back. I took a deep slug from the bottle before handing it out to him. We both laughed as we spoke of Kestrel with happiness as Chichi mourned in his way this great lose. He could feel that I was also with the others still living in this world. I stretched my new powers finding how limitless his true strength actually was. I was giving to those that needed to know he had passed into the final death what was needed.

* * *

Another echo of myself appeared in my own form in a space set aside by the original dragon race, the second race, connected to this world. I did not need to move as I sense Princess Muse rushing to me. She held my shoulders as she looked at me with those curious golden dragonian eyes stuck in a dusky human face.

“I have felt him passing but true death is not his ending.” she told me before I could speak.

“I hope he is with his true wife.” I replied as I felt my eyes filling with tears.

“He is with her somewhere no one can ever hurt them ever again.” she announced as her fingertips brushed through the fur on my head. “They have sacrificed too much to not receive a final gift for their honor and hard duties.” she added.

“Why do I sense you will not cry for his passage?” I asked softly. Tears were slowly and freely rolling down my cheek.

“I save my tears for the joy of reaching such a wondrous place.” she returned smiling. I sense her pull my head into her bosom. “Mourn him while here in my arms, kitten.” she whispered in my ear.

“This is not what I sensed why he wanted me to be here with you.” I replied still trying to fight off my tears.

“You are here for more than this, but first release your pain and be cleansed to receive your new name.” she informed me in the same whispering voice. My resistance melted as I yowled and mewed out my tears and my lost for Kestrel. As my last tears and sadness left my body, I felt her giggle shake against my body. “We have the duty to give the true name to those of light and honor.” she continued. The weight of my own mourning had shifted away from me. She pulled me back for her golden eyes to gaze deeply into my amber orbs. “I name thee KreGenin, the one who is Genin but not Genin.” she concluded. The name echoed in my mind as the memory of Kryel KreLey had called me a Kre like herself. I straightened before stepping back. I wiped the tears from my eyes and cheeks before looking at her eyes.

“I thank you for this great gift you place upon me, Princess Muse.” I told her. I bowed deeply to her in the fashion of the second race.

“I will send you warning of when the darkest time approaches by calling you by name in the halls of dreams and then in the flesh I live in at that time.” She informed me directly. “Continue your many visits to those that need comfort and connection, since you have given me more than I could ever expect, my pretty cat.” she concluded with a smile. I left that echo standing with her as we softly talked about everything and nothing.

* * *

Lady Nightingale had isolated herself claiming she needed to meditate at the moment Kestrel had died. I now manifest in the candle lit room where she sat crossed legged on the floor. She did not move as I walked up to her back. She held her eyes closed, breathing deeply, and in silence as the smell of incense floated around the room and tickled my nostrils.

“You would think that I would not need to do this after he warned us.” she whispered to me. She had not moved nor opened her eyes as she spoke to me. “Do not speak, just stand close to me so I can feel him one last time.” she asked softly. I sat behind her and wrapped my arms around her waist. I touched her as Kestrel would have touched her when they were alone together. She turned to face me easily sitting upon my lap while her legs and arms locked around my body tightly. I felt no reason to resist as I physically slipped inside her as she positioned her body tighter against mine. This was her way to connect with Order and all the others even if it appeared as tantric love making.

I would have felt bad not allowing Dia to be the one to claim this first time from me but it was not what it appeared and I now could understand the difference. Our souls touched and our energies circulated in a slow and soft circle that was what would give her peace. All the others would feel this moment with her as I tended to their need to connect one last moment with Order. Our pleasure was in the moment of touch and not the physical release others required the much younger races need to feel complete. That echo remained in this position with her until morning had my form dissipating from under her.

* * *

Sephina, Kestrel’s little princess, was shocked as I arrived at the door looking like the man she knew well. She had aged but still kept youth in her eyes as they sparkled with childish glee seeing him once more. I requested private time with her to discuss a private matter disturbing me. Her smile grew brighter as she escorted me into the same lounge where I had first met her. She had the room sealed in the same way she did that last time so we would not be disturbed. None questioned her request with a small mental touch from me. We sat at the game board, as I had suggested, where I had taken the black color leaving her with white.

“What is wrong, kachero?” she asked. I was waiting for her to move while she simply looked at me confused and worried.

“What could be possibly wrong in wanting to play a game you might win?” I returned blankly looking at the board.

“You picked black, you barely speak, and you do not call me kachera.” she replied. I felt her stiffening in her seat. I sighed letting my guise melt away into my furry self. “So the cat visits when the master cannot?” she added. I felt her partially relax as she placed her piece turning a single black piece to white.

“I know you can keep a secret.” I answered. I placed my piece as all the pieces flip to black without being touched. “Lord Kestrel is dead.” I whispered to her. Her eyes had remained on the board as if ignoring my words but I did notice her hand trembled and her cheek had paled.

“He could have taken me out of the game this easily?” she asked quietly. Her eyes raise to meet mine still dry.

“Yes, but would rather challenge you than crush you.” I replied. I was still watching the growing signs of her realizing what I was telling her.

“He always said that death was just the time when a spirit was between bodies.” she returned. The small bubble of water formed at the corner of her eye. “Why do I believe that you play with me today because he will never be able to play with me again?” she spoke as the tear grew in her eye.

“He is gone beyond simple death while Lord Death sung to him one last requiem.” I admitted softly. She brushed the tear away but her hands shook and her face turned the shade of papyrus. With a wave of my hand, all the pieces returned to the starting point of the game. “One last game for him, kachera?” I asked calmly. She nodded as she realized the color of the pieces had been reversed leaving her now with black.

“Alright, but try to be nice on me like he would.” she remarked forcing a smile. Hours passed as each of our moves upon the board was pensively and ponderously decided. She did get to place the last piece as the filled board was equally split between my white and her black pieces. What started as a laugh in her throat became sobs as she threw herself at my shoulder finally crying. “Why?” she repeated as her mourning wet my fur and skin. I held her gently rubbing her back as she continued crying for nearly an hour. She pulled back her face, sniffling and with red rimmed eyes to stare at me. “May I ask you to take his form again and make love to me as he had promised?” she added.

“I have that ability but it is not something that will remove your pain, kachera.” I answer slowly. These were the words he would want to tell her.

“Then allow me hurt myself forever as my way of honoring his death!” she snapped back.

“Do you believe he would want you to do this? In his name?” I growled back at her. “His honor prevented him from taking you last time you were together to keep you free of this pain caused by his death.” I explained calmer. “I will not show less honor than he would towards you, Sephina.” I concluded. I stepped back from her as her eyes grew wider. I bowed deeply to her as she brought her trembling hands to her mouth as tears returned to her eyes.

“Do not leave me now?” she begged as my form became partially transparent.

“We shall have other times in our future lives together but I will not recognize you.” I purred to her. “That is all I can offer you in his name, kachera.” I concluded and was gone from her room.

* * *

I sat on a white sand beach at the southern tip of India watching the waves. Scarabea splashed her way to the shore breathing hard. She had been on the farthest ship of the line of vessels carrying the crystals away from Lemuria. I knew she activated the detonation sequence upon the crystals on her ship knowing it would follow the chain of ships destroying all them until it hit the harbor of Lemuria igniting all the crystals they held back for defense. The portal she attempted to use as an escape route had warped and dumped her in the ocean a league from the shore in the future.

“You really should practice doing that more often if you plan using it safely to escape mystical explosions.” I commented teasingly. I had not moved from my seat on the log bearing my own form. She rose her face to glare at me while wet hair plastered half her face. The glare became a chuckle as she realized it was me.

“Order has told me that more often then I can count.” she remarked still giggling. She pushed herself to her feet. She stumble over to sit beside me. I placed an arm around her shoulders and added heat around her to dry her sodden clothing. “So this is how it feels when Order falls?” she asked softly. She cuddled against me as a blanket appeared to cover our shoulders and lower bodies. My hand took hers gently with entwined fingers.

“And the feeling of one being reborn.” I whispered.

“War and Death?” she asked as shock showed in her eyes.

“Their spirit lives on but something has been taken from both of them.” I replied. “It sits with Lockey in a bubble of space and time outside of existence.” I explained to her. “Even with all of Genin’s abilities, I cannot return them to this world.” I concluded softly.

“If you can, let her know that we will find a way to bring her and the Leviathan to home port.” she requested softly. “And inform her of Kestrel’s death.” she added.

“I will tell her all this.” I assured her. “But I believe she will need to get her side of this barrier open for us to pull her back into our world.” I added. She nodded silently before closing her eyes leaning on my side. A soft giggle escaped her.

“I can feel that you are with Famine and Pestilence, while being with me.” she stated between giggles. She moved to place a soft kiss on my lips and rub her cheek along mine. She smiled at me before cuddling into my side tightly. We held hands and sat silently enjoying this connection that was shared with the other two. Through the eyes of my other echoes with Famine and Pestilence, I saw them smile as they felt all of us together in this moment of mourning.

* * *

In a pocket outside of time, space, and everything, Captain Lockey screamed orders to her sailors who were dodging an animate flaming sword and cold scythe. She asked in bellows who had activated their rift engine at the moment the crystals of Lemuria ignited around them. Between dodging the two living weapons, the sailors fought to keep the ship from drifting deeper into the emptiness they found themselves. I stood on the deck facing the weapons in my form feline.

“Hold!” I roared my command. Both weapon froze for a moment before clattering as normal weapons upon the deck. “Not exactly what you expected, Lockey.” I remarked softly to her.

“Thank you for stopping those things from slicing up my crew.” she replied quickly. “Now can you tell me what has happened!” she hissed at me.

“You rifted your ship out of known existence to this pocket.” I explained. “And I cannot assist you to return to our reality.” I added truthfully.

“I still do not understand who activated or why that damnable contraption activated.” she retorted breathing hard. Her anger was palpable in the air around her. With a quick mental touched on the living and dead members upon the ship showed that none had activated the advanced rift device.

“I can tell you that your crew did not do it.” I replied softly. I scanned the vessel closely with my mind reversing the events to the moment of activation. “The shields prevent your crystal from igniting but received a signal through your capture attempt on the Brothers.” I revealed to her softly. “You have the ability to return but must find how by yourselves.” I added quietly.

“Thank Kestrel for sending you to help us.” she stated bluntly. She tried walking pass me towards the engine room. My feline claw now turned to liquid night skies halted her from her forward motion. She glared in my eyes from a moment before she looked down at my cosmic hand. The gasp and herself pulling back from me was violent and gained the attention of all the sailors upon the deck. I let my body fully shift to its cosmic form while my swirling twin star eyes remained locked on hers.

“You are welcome, but I cannot stay to help more than I have already done, captain Lockey.” I said in that echoing voice. Her mouth worded silently ‘NO!’ as tears filled her eyes. “Feel lucky since if the drive had not activated, you would have sunk and gotten annihilated with Lemuria.” I informed her. This simple comment shattered her self control.

“He cannot be gone!” she screamed. I could feel her anger, disbelief, sorrow, and impotence fight within her mind and body. The sailor moved their caps to their hearts as they stood at attention upon the deck. I nodded as the first tear rolled down her cheek as wails formed slowly among her crew. “What could be powerful enough to destroy a being that can crush gods, demons, and devils easily?” she bellowed at me. I remained passive, accepting her mourning as screams directed at me, his replacement. Most of the crew had fallen to one, if not both, knees as their wails grew louder.

“He was damaged long ago by an old adversary.” I explained. I could not reveal everything but gave her what information I could. “An incident reopened that deep unhealed wound, causing him to weaken each time he used his abilities carrying him into true death.” I briefly surmised for her. “To save others, he drained himself nearly empty leaving only this solution to save the rest of the world.” I added. I held out my arms as my six starlight wings lifted my feet from the deck.

“He has passed his gifts to you?” she whispered. The tears streaked her face as doubt showed in her eyes and voice. “But you can not even help us with all those new powers?” she screamed at me. “We are left to fend for ourselves in nothingness while you stand there doing nothing?” she concluded in a louder shriller bellow.

“Even at his full strength, he could do nothing to change your predicament.” I told her. My voice was calm, deep, and soothing as I spoke. “Whatever spark of luck occurred to save you from true death, is all you have left to save yourself with.” I continued. “We six will keep a beacon to help you find us once more, but we can do no more without destroying all existence from the starting point.” I explained to her. “Everything would return to a void with nothing alive and nothing existing.” I concluded.

“You will not return once you leave here?” she asked calmer.

“I cannot interfere in your new adventure and mission, captain Lockey.” I replied. “Once the battle in Atlantis ends, I cannot allow myself to remember these events until after the stage is set for humanity’s darkest hour.” I confided in her. “Only one enemy will fall in Atlantis while a much more dangerous evil waits to pull the world towards corruption.”

“Thank you for trying to help and giving us a clue on what happened to us.” she returned. I saw her squaring her jaw, standing straight, and placing her hat over her heart while her eyes burned into mine. “I shall return to our plane one day and then we will have words on all that has transgressed from this moment to that future.” she stated bluntly. “Until then, never show your face in my presence again, cat!” she concluded in a hissing growl. My nod turned into a deep bow to her before blinking out of existence from upon her ship.

* * *

It was just past noon as this last echo entered in Madame Rouge’s establishment bearing Kestrel’s form. The shocked and murmured warning of still being closed was ignored as I moved easily around them with my feline celerity now upgraded by Genin’s prowess. I danced around them moving around the room waiting from Rouge to see why her people were getting excited and loud. The door to her private lounge open as she walked angrily into the room and froze as her eyes met mine. I stood before her with a smirk on my face without speaking.

“Kestrel?” she asked then her eyes focused on mine. She gasped and motioned me into her private lounge. She closed and locked the door behind us before turning to face me again. “Drop the guise, young Kestrel!” she ordered. No anger was in her voice but a sternness of this being her domain. My smirk turned into a feline smile as my body shifted before her eyes. “What has happened?” she asked in her husky soft voice. I reached out to run the back of my claws along her cheek.

“Tell Deidra that I was never angry at being her messenger to Reina.” I stated first. “But a sorrowful event has me coming to speak to you in confidence and secrecy.” I continued fluently in the demon tongue. Her eyes grew wide as she realized what I had just did. “Yes, he has succumb to the weakness you felt in him during our last visit.” I admitted in the common tongue. “I come to inform you and to introduce you to the one chosen to replace him in the fight.” I concluded.

She reached out to take my hand and lead me to her lounging divan to sit beside her. She petted my head while I watched the reddish tears slowly trace lines down her cheeks. Her sad smile remained on her face as she simply gazed into my eyes while petting my head with slow gentle strokes.

“I would have burned my existence away if I knew he was so deeply damaged.” she whispered to me. “He only accept a small donation of my essence and a night without dreams for true sleep.” she remarked. Her smile faltered as her tears poured freely down her cheeks. “Do not be as stubborn as him, please?” she begged softly. She buried her face in my chest as the smell of her perfume soured into the brimstone stench. Her tears made my fur take on the smell of sulfur and the blood that tinted her tears. I did not mind this added scent as I ran my fingers through her hair holding her against me.

“But I must admit that the only way to catch the last enemy, his second greatest foe, I must forget everything that has come before the sinking of Atlantis.” I told her. “I will not remember you, Deidra, Reina, nor my sweet Dia.” I confessed as my tears wet her hair. “I will know nothing of this until the last darkness will besiege the humans.” I concluded.

“You will meet Diadem in every lifetime if I personally must make it happen.” she returned. She pulled away from me just enough for us to look into each others tear blurred eyes. She place a soft kiss on each my cheeks before rubbing her cheeks against mine. “She will seek you out you foolish kitten.” she continued holding my face so I may not look away from her. “Even if you do not remember her, your heart will call to hers and I will do whatever it takes to help bring the two of you together.” she concluded.

“Thank you, Rouge.” I replied in a whisper. I forced a happy grin on my face knowing she would not be able to help beyond a few lifetimes. With both Lemuria and Atlantis gone from the world, magical being would fade into nothingness if they did not blend with the human bloodline. It will create humans with abilities that slowly diminished with each new generation until it will be seen as a tale of mythic powers. “It does not truly matter, you have already fulfilled my only true need.” I admitted with a true smile to her. “I must return to Atlantis now, and prepare for the last battle of that island until the far flung future.” I concluded. We helped each other stand still holding on to each other. I placed one last kiss upon her brow. I stepped back, bowed, and faded out of existence in her closed private lounge.

Redpath's Journals: Lord Kestrel of the Redpath (33)

The doors opened and the trio walked out with triumphant smiles on their faces. Cole reacted instantly giggling like his ‘Flower’ persona would. He shouted his thanks as he rushed off to warn Sert and Meli of this victory. I nodded to Kestrel smiling while knowing this was sealing the fate of all of us. I followed behind the three as they were escorted to the harbor. Scarabea was given a chance to have a parting hug with Kestrel and a final kiss upon his cheek. She drifted beside as the Brothers made their own parting movements.

“Please do not tell him of his missing daughter.” she whispered to me. I smiled and nodded to her with a quick wink. She giggled before rushing up the gangplank before the Brothers slowly walked to stand on the deck of the Leviathan. Kestrel traded a salute to them while the plank retracted. The Leviathan glided to actually navigate the protective reefs instead of disappearing from the harbor waters. I let Kestrel turn before matching his move. We both smiled as I walked with him back to our home. We barely entered before he called all of us together. He requested our help to carry all his musical instruments to the garden where he gave all of us a day filled with music and leisure. Runners from the Royal Kitchen filled our need for food while the day was spent in joyous idleness.

I watched over everything during the next few weeks as words that the crystals were being loaded on ships ready to be spread to the other world arrived to Kestrel and the other powers in Atlantis. Kestrel, to give me more time away from him, spent his time lounging in the garden. Word started as rumors but word from outpost looking seaward confirmed what was being seen. A massive fleet was positioned on the horizon all flying the emblem of Lemuria. The rumors turned this flotilla into an attacking force ready to target Atlantis. As I reported this to Kestrel a sad mild came onto his face.

“And the world strikes out to force the hand of Atlantis.” he replied. “Once Atlantis acts, they will retreat and our last days are upon us.” he stated. “We still have time for you to complete your final arrangements before you are me.” he added in a whisper. He waved me away to continue my mission of getting all the multiple group of Guards ready to start moving people out of Atlantis. I felt a tremor under my feet before learning that the fleet had retreated. I sighed knowing nothing could divert the path we now rode upon. My path did have me keeping tabs on the Council member named Peregrine at Kestrel’s request. He stayed much closer to the Royal Enclave than the Council Chambers as time passed.

The Holy Queen was taken prisoner by a combined squadron of Royal and Council Guards under the crime of ordering and activating the device that had destroyed Lemuria without consent of all divisions of Atlantis. She had went peacefully while claiming it was the Council that had done all these evil deeds to discredit her. Witnesses told a different tale of a raging bloodthirsty Queen ordering the erasure of Lemuria from existence and proceeded to do so when no one obeyed her. She had been seen activating a forbidden device that the engineers of Atlantis could not dismantle or disarm. The sheer volume of mixed witnesses made it hard to be seen as a plot against her own actions. Kestrel still spent his waking hours in the garden commenting about the clouds or wishing he could play as sweetly as our song birds sang. Two days passed by while Kestrel sat acting the fool in our garden. We did not speak since it was not needed until the third day.

“It is time for my last act.” Kestrel told me. He had me follow him to the empty foyer as he locked arms with me. “Be ready once I call for you, my Squire, since it is the last chance to save Annianka or Atlantis.” he added before leaving. I did not try to follow him knowing where he was going. Miss Hope had been assigned as her Warden as she was placed into her tower to never leave again. The respect all Atlantis had for Lord Kestrel allowed him to be the only other person that could enter the Queen’s prison tower.

“Redpath!” bellowed in my mind and I was off running toward the Queen’s Prison Tower. I came across Miss Hope rushing in my direct.

“He called me.” I stated as I flew passed her. It took barely a minute for her to be at my side as we climbed up a back stairwell to what I presumed was her private room. My feet did not falter seeing the room having been transformed into the central circular room of the Temple of Light. Miss Hope paused as she took in the sight before her. I faced Kestrel from across the pillar of light as they spoke loudly to us while the albino tigress covered her ears.

“The only way for him to take your place is to be you in every way possible.” it told us in a single voice. “Your power and abilities mean nothing without the memories and knowledge that fuels and controls it.” it continued in unison. “Give everything you are and we will accept him as we accepted you, Great Lord Genin.” it concluded with blunt finality. Our eyes meet as Lord Death’s song sounded from behind Kestrel. Lord Death did not touch him but stood as his back sing a serenade for him to be whisked away as we nodded our mutual agreement. Tendrils of light shot out from the pillar to connect us as his form dissipated into nothing as my mind flooded with everything he had ever been.

I felt his grief of placing this upon my young shoulders but his mantle felt like a perfect weight for me. I stood discovering myself taller as I stood in a room looking towards an empty bed with Miss Hope kneeling beside it. I also knew why he could not openly attack Genia because of his promise to his mother Universe. I was not him but need her to believe I was meaning I would only attack without truly being angry at her. The plan was simple but could not fail in this case. Miss Hope still looked upon the empty bed with no trace Lord Kestrel ever existed.

“We cannot allow anyone to know that he is no more.” I stated. I did not realize I spoke with his voice. Miss Hope turned and gasped wide eyed at me. From a mirror in the room, I saw that I now had Kestrel’s appearance as well as his voice.

“The eyes he had shown me when we first met.” she whispered still staring at me. I glance to the mirror closer to see my golden amber cat eyes studded Kestrel’s face. I focused my mind remembering all the details of my previous form and watched myself shift back into my feline form. I smirked at my reflection.

“Please listen carefully, Miss Hope.” I purred out softly. “We must pretend that Lord Kestrel was removed and never let it be known that he has died the final death.” I started explaining slowly. I created a second copy of myself and manifested it standing beside me. “She, who attacks Atlantis, will not believe he would charge her unless he lost something dear to him.” I continued purring from both bodies. “She will know, upon seeing my cat formed duplicate, that I am his chosen Squire, sacrificing myself to save a weakened Lord Kestrel.”

“How have you been able to present twice?” she asked confused.

“He had many more abilities than he allowed any of us to see.” I answered softly. “He was hiding who and what he truly was to protect us as much as to protect himself from a pair of ancient enemies.” I added softly.

“You will face two enemies here?” she asked bluntly. I saw her feral nature rising in her ready for a challenge and to call all into this battle. I raised a hand to touch her shoulder.

“Only one may be defeated here if Atlantis is to survive for the far future when it will be needed once more.” I told her softly. “The second of his enemies cannot be destroyed yet.” I continued softly. “And it is best if no one else interferes in the battle since I know they will die the worse death possible.” I informed her. Her eyes turned to meet mine. “It has no form to be defeated on the last day of Atlantis being above the waves.”

“Continue with your plan.” she ordered in a half growl.

“My supposed death will allow me to attack her with the full strength of my righteous rage.” I began weaving the details. “When she think I am done, the true death blow will take her.” I explained. “In her last moment, she will see my true face and learn a secret she craved to know.” I concluded. A smirk was on my face but it was not a snarl nor were my words filled with aggression as I describe murdering her, his half-sister.

“I do not hear, see, nor smell anger in you.” she muttered. She stepped back examining both myself and my copy. I let my original body return to Lord Kestrel’s form.

“I do this for Atlantis and the world, and not for the revenge I would previously be my motivation.” I replied with a soft deep throated purr. “He has enlightened me that anger need not be what makes a person act or hold back from acting.” I said. “An emotionally empty vessel is feared more than any other since opponents cannot fathom what they will do.” I concluded in a purring chuckle.

“How long will we be forced to play this farce?” she asked. I could see how difficult it was on her to see Kestrel and myself standing before her. I let my copy dissolve but kept his countenance.

“Until Atlantis is rising again from the waves, or has been freed from the darkness hidden in its Heartstone.” I admitted quietly. I sighed softly as visions of future possibilities flashed in my mind. “A very long time, sweet tigress.” I added. I slipped back into my feline form giving her a cattish grin and wink.

“It is best you return to the others before they believe something has gone amiss.” she suggested. Her padded hand came out to touch my cheek as she looked into my eyes.

“Still the exquisite and wise tigress Kestrel could have fallen in love with, even if this life had him held in a bird’s nature.” I returned with a chuckle. One of my hands covered hers as my other hand touched her cheek. “Dia can chide me for this later.” I purred. I leaned in and rubbed my cheek along hers while we both purred to each other. “Until we meet again in the far future.” I whispered in her ear. I pulled back to look at her. “None of my future forms will remember this until the first shadows of the great darkness touches this world, unfortunately.” I added before disappearing from her room.

I had one last duty to perform since some needed to know that I was the new Kestrel and stood as his replacement for the being that has existed nearly forever. My body splintered into multiple copies ready to manifest around the globe and in other planes.

Redpath's Journals: Truth and my Plans to Help (32)

“I must know where I must be if not at your side.” I growled at him. It may have been arrogance on my part as I watched him stiffen in his seat as a snarl form on his face. It was too late for me to stop my tongue now that I truly understood what they all faced. “They have allowed me stand here seeing all of you as you truly are, so I deserve to know my place!” I roared in the room. My growling vibrated the room sparking at the cosmic wards and the central pillar of light shined brighter. All eyes grew wider as I stood at his full height without fear nor worry upon my face. Smiles and soft chuckles and giggles sounded just above the whispering buzzing of the pillar.

“You will stand between the enemy of Atlantis existing and the enemy wanting to consume the world.” Order finally answered turning away from me. “If you select wrong, none of them will be able to stand with you against the final darkness that will be upon us within the last days.” he warned me softly.

“I pray the Light guides your claws to the right target.” War chuckled softly.

“He will choose the one being I cannot face without dying.” he retorted bluntly. Wide eyes focused on him while Chaos hands came to her mouth with a gasp. From her reactions, I knew it was Genia, half-sister of Kestrel, that I would face with the light sword the pillar of light had shown me. “He already knows which must die without me, but after it will be his decision on what comes next.” he concluded. In unison, a slow nod to him and then to me showing they accepted his words and whatever I decided afterwards.

I moved swiftly and silently around the room while softer conversations and tales of their combined past whispered in the room. I was easily included in their words, answering my softly asked questions and made remarks about what I had accepted as my Squire’s duties. I could see the soft but merry smile on Kestrel’s celestial face as this quieter form of reveling surrounded me. I learned much about Order’s life and few things about his prior life as simply the Great Lord Genin. I also gained an understanding of the deities in this world that mostly were not from this plane directly.

“Was his soul bounded wife pregnant?” I asked in a whisper. I stood between Famine and Pestilence as I hazarded this odd question. Their negative answers had me worried I had mistaken KreLey’s origins but a tilted head and swirling look from Chaos had me moving to refill her tall glass.

“None but I knew.” she whispered in my right ear. Her stilted Atlantian was harsh but easy to understand. “Elyria had not told Order yet since they hunted her vile sister, Ann'Anka Anccilar.” she quickly whispered to me. “We then received words she had died and Order had ensconced himself in the Temple of Light ignoring everything in his deep pain.” she explained with a sniffle. “It took a millennium before he finally and willingly returned to his duties and our side showing only a cold empty face.” she concluded.

“His daughter lives and named herself Kryel KreLey.” I informed her. “She believes a day will come when she is born as his daughter for real, but calls Sara her big sister.” I added in a purr. She hid her smile with a hand that also silenced her joyous giggle.

“And that will have us becoming seven in our special family to make it complete.” she whispered back. She motioned me to continue serving as I learned more about all of them including their origins and race. Time crawled by like many stories and discussions until high full moon crested in the skies above Atlantis. They reverted to their human guise before disengaging the comic wards and the pillar of light blinked out of existence. The Ambassadors to Atlantis had their selected Guards escorting them home while Chichi offered to walk Scarabea back to the Leviathan. I nearly interfered in this but remained closed to Kestrel instead as we headed home in silence.

“Why was I selected as your Squire?” I asked softly. I had been purring to hide the nervousness I felt asking this simple question.

“Because you would never allow me to enter that room alone.” he replied easily. “If you would have attempted to follow me in, you would have died because of the wards erected upon the place.” he continued at a slow pace. “I cannot risk losing any of you but you are the one most likely to go against my orders in the name of honor.” he added to me.

“They knew I was your Squire.” I told him. “That is not why you asked this of me other than how limited your time here remains.” I continued. I feared I was not truly the one he wished as his Squire but only a convenience to him. “Why was I the one you asked to be your Squire?” I finally asked. We had stopped and turned to face each other. In his Atlantian form, he was a head taller than me even at my full height.

“Sert has the heart but not the will to walk my path.” he began softly. “Meli has a protective nature but does not have the drive to follow my path.” he continued calmly. “Cole has his cunning but is too easily swayed from the path he must walk to follow mine.” he explained slowly. “This leave you with the heart, kindness, and cunning plus the honor to follow in my footprints as my Squire and my replacement.” he concluded. I could sense he meant all this but held back something he felt he could not reveal to me.

“I do not fully believe your words but will follow your path without asking to know more.” I replied and nodded to him. I returned to walking as he moved to be at my side. We were greeted with another trio of worried faces that was boiling into protective anger.

“You have been doing everything to do the least possible lately.” Sert commented.

“You have been weakening since you saved that child, haven’t you?” Meli snapped at him.

“You have been acting very odd and more silent lately, sir.” Cole stated quietly.

“Do not tell us that we are over reacting due to over protectiveness.” Meli warned him.

“Every time you leave, we expect Redpath returning with word that you have been sent to Healers’ Halls because you collapsed.” Sert chimes in harshly.

“We have found nothing that could return your health before you have died.” Cole added grumbling. I looked at them in silence next to Kestrel. I had words for them at this time but a different idea started forming on how to change their thoughts away from worrying over Kestrel’s state.

“Yes, I have been avoiding many things and holding back my strengths and abilities for what I have foreseen coming.” Kestrel returned to them. He kept his voice calm but I could see his one fist was so tightly held that the knuckles were turning white. His face like his words lied of his emotions as he smiled shyly at them with a shrug. “Please understand that much may come in the near future that will force me to extend myself nearly as much as I did saving that child.” he explained. “If I am to walk away alive from this, I must channel all my strength internally until that time.” he added. I knew he hoped they would simply drop it, so I spoke.

“This is why I have been at his side to allow us a chance to prevent him needing to waste power which we can do for him.” I remarked softly. I eyed my feet as I yowled under my breath. “I am worried but we must trust that he is doing what is best for all of us and Atlantis.” I added. I looked up at them with tear soaking the fur on his cheeks. I did not know I could cry on command but it worked to get them to allow him to be excused for an early morning meeting with the Council with his Brothers. I wait until he left before requesting Sert and Meli to join me the garden for tea and discussion. They agreed more so since I was avoiding having Cole, whom they still distrusted, joining us. I could have my discussion with him outside the Council Chambers during tomorrows meeting.

“We must speak in private.” I whispered to them. “One hour in the garden, my friends.” I added quickly. I disappearing into the shadowy hallway towards the kitchen to fetch a catnip and chamomile tea to assist them to sleep in next morning. They found my sitting on the grass with the tea pot on a brazier to keep in warm with a cup for each of us. They nervously sat in a triangle with me receiving a cup of steaming tea before we started talking.

“What has happened?” Sert asked first. Meli nodded while her eyes stayed on me.

“It is not of Kestrel I wish to speak of.” I clarified quietly. I gave a shy hesitant look hoping they would see that what was on my mind was hard for me to discuss about. “I musk ask you about out Holy Queen after explaining to you some of the questions she has asked he Honor Guard, Miss Hope.” I told them. My voice soft, hesitant, and slow to match my feigned behavior.

“You wish to speak with us and not report this to Kestrel directly?” Meli asked mildly confused. I nodded slowly to her. “Why with us?” she added bluntly.

“You have known her behavior here for much longer than I.” I replied calming. “And if Miss Hope has fears I must know if you share in them with her before reporting to Lord Kestrel.” I concluded. I gave each of them a nod knowing they would accept this simplified reply.

“This is about her questions regarding the none existent winged wolf that she believes carried Sara in her infancy?” Sert asked softly. Meli looked at him with a tear rolling down her cheek.

“I have memory flashes of seeing such a guard but I know that only Valeria was assigned to watch over and tend to Princess Sara prior to Ichcui’s arrival.” Meli supplied slowly. She finally turned to face me asking for her cup to be refilled.

“That is one of the things since Miss Hope knows only of her cousin, the tigress Valeria, who would carry Sara around and care for her, as you have stated.” I replied quietly. “The queen has claimed that a dark faction within the Council Guards murdered him under Council orders.” I continued. All cups were refilled including my own. “She has claimed the Council is the enemy to Atlantis and her rule here.” I informed them sadly.

“You should mention that to Cole since he would know the mindset of the Council better than we do.” Sert returned pensively. I could see this worry growing in them as they focused on the other being they truly cared for.

“Truth and lies mix upon his tongue making his words of no value here.” I returned. It was easier for them to believe I distrusted Cole as deeply as they did with this simple comment. “I have already investigated the Council, at both Kestrel’s and Miss Hope’s request, to find they all support Annianka now while ignoring Munin.” I reported to them using casually their name. They glanced at each other but nodded as their eyes returned to mine. “But they cannot ignore the increasing stories of events that never happened nor her violent outbursts.” I added. A mewling sigh escaped me as they thought about my revelation.

“They are thinking of returning her to her prison cell?” Meli asked angrily.

“They would have no choice if she draws in foreigners into these fantasies and half lies.” Sert returned softly.

“Yes, which I believe will happen if the peace plans with Lemuria collapse.” I explained softly. I gave Meli a sad shrug as her eyes realized what could happen at this critical moment. “I fear the world will not wait for the crystals to arrive in their lands but force Atlantis into an unwarranted actions.” I revealed. This was from what I had learned from the diner with the Kestrel’s sacred family. They would already think of how to react once it starts and, knowing them, it will be to save the citizens and foreigners. “At that time, we will lose Kestrel for good because of it.” I hazarded this last fact.

“Her actions would drive him away from us here in Atlantis.” Sert returned grumbling. Another refill of their cups as I prepared to give the story Kestrel would have planned for, if I were him.

“But unlike the Royal Wedding event, he will not return in time to save us.” Meli concluded softly.

“Very true but I believe it will be the Ones that sent him here pulling him away from us permanently.” I countered softly. I gazed at them directly letting fear showing in my eyes. “And he will feel that he has failed all of us if we simply sit here and die.” I concluded. This should get them moving into planning escape routes and ways to get the most people possible safely away from Atlantis. It also meant they would not get in my way as I faced off with Genia in a deadly duel. They nodded as we had one last cup of tea together before they headed for bed. My evening friends would have to understand about my absence for this night. I climb into my tree perch receiving soft cooing from my feather companion. “I hope this works as he has seen it working.” I whispered to the small kestrel perched above me. I was spending another night in a vigil at the pillar of light in their temple until a squawk from my bird partner that it was time to rise.

I stood with Cole in the foyer when Kestrel came down to join us. We did not need to exchange words as we moved together towards the Council Chamber doors. We met Twin and Cor at the doors. Kestrel stepped forward to stand with them on one side while Cole and me were ready to wait on this side of the doors with Council Guards.

“Do you think we will have any problems with this.” Cor asked softly.

“Speak quickly and clearly.” Kestrel replied. “Do not add any doubts or negative possibilities of anything going wrong.” he continued fluidly. “And smile like we all did last night.” he added with a wink. Broad grins appeared on the Brother’s faces as peaceful happiness shone in their eyes.

“Let us complete this part so we shall be in place for next act of this play.” Twin whispered. Cole and I nodded to them before they turned. The doors opened and they marched forward together. The soft click of the doors closing had me turning towards Cole as he did the same.

“Now we should speak and get the Guards’ knowledge added to our own.” I told Cole. He looked at the Guards cautiously before grudgingly nodding to me. The Guards moved in to make a barrier around us allowing them to join in while keeping our discussion mostly secretive. “Have any seen the ‘flutter cub’ our Queen claims cared for Princess Sara in her infancy?” I asked in a whisper. At first they only shook their heads while I glanced around at them.

“Speak freely as I do.” Cole ordered softly. “Those closest to her Highness except for Miss Hope, have vague memories which they do not believe in.” he told me. “I asked Captain directly about this once the rumored comments come to my ears earning me a comment that wolves do not grow wings.” he added slowly. I nodded to him and sighed before looking at the Guards once more.

“Nothing of this bear reality but are insidious memories that are unreal.” one Guard started. A round of verbal agreements and comments of her feelings against the Council growing greater lately. I nodded to them as a soft growling was in my throat.

“Has madness taken her or are we the ones that have gone mad?” Cole asked annoyed. “I fear what her next explosion will be like if she has truly lost touch with reality.” he added with a deep sigh.

“Something is making her believe fantasies are reality to serve their own purpose.” I returned softly. “It is an omen of what is coming towards us if we are not careful.” I added. Cole’s eyes were on me with curiosity gleaming there.

“What did happen during the private dinner?” Cole asked. The ring of Guards moved back turning their back towards us. “You have changed by it as much as the other six in that room.” he added as explanation. He was revealing nothing while hoping for juicy information.

“Explain?” I replied quickly. “What has changed and noticed in the other six?” I asked more directly. He sighed before speaking.

“Chichi was both sober and up early without a guest in his bed.” he began slowly. He ticked off the events on his fingers for me to see. “Lady Nightingale was having breakfast by the dolphin pool.” he ticked off. “Lady Scarabea spent the night sitting on the prow of the Leviathan watching the open ocean.” he continued. “Lord Corëe’ap’Ręæ and Lord Twin Feathers were sitting on the roof of their residence without throwing things at passerby’s.” he ticked two fingers. He held his index up to me. “And Kestrel was smiling all morning without speaking about anything at all.” he explained, starring directly at my eyes. “And you have asked for my opinion instead of telling me what others believe I am thinking.” he concluded softer. Leeriness and happiness warred in his eyes. I did not need the ability to read minds to know he was trying to learn what I knew and why I was acting so open towards him.

“It has been a very long time since all of them were together.” I replied. “And it will be a very long time before they can all be together again.” I continued softly. “They have much to think about and accept between the long absence that they face.” I conclude. I used his own non-answer technique while sounding like a complete answer. He stared hard at me trying find any hint of me teasing him. He eventually shock his head while we return to quietly discuss the royal events of late finding moment showing a slip into surrealistic non event. None could ignore the signs of madness growing in our Queen though I did have them ignoring the festivity she arrange for the Brothers’ visit. The many hours that passed gave me the time to have direct all of them along the pathways for them to be in place for what was going to happen while keeping far from the fight I was going to be facing.