Chapter 83 – Into The Jungle

“Papa! Papa! Papa! Papa! Look! Look!” Hafeni let his son excitedly drag him outside and to the cliffs overlooking the ocean. “Look! What is that?!”

“I don’t know.” There it was, in distance, moving along the horizon. A dark storm so small and contained he could lift his hand and cover it with his thumb. It was slowly moving north.

What an oddity.

Kavaa watched Kassandora kneel down, her body tensed, her arms tightened, and she cracked the ground to meet that falling monster. Fer slammed into Kassandora mid-air, the two became a blur, and then crashed into the red dirt of the Kirinyaan Badlands like a small meteor. Kavaa looked up at Neneria, Goddess of Death, slowly drift down. Shivers went down her spine when Neneria’s cold dark eyes fell on hers, and then the Goddess looked away.

“Hold!” Kavaa shouted to her Clerics. They had already began preparing. Kassandora shouted as that cloud of dust began to settle down.

“FER! STOP!” The red fog was blown away to reveal Kassandora lying on her back, squirming under Fer’s weight. “NO! BAD!” Kassandora shouted as Fer leaned down to ruffle Kassandora’s hair. The Goddess of Beasthood’s tall ears suddenly quivered, that mane of gold fell, as she looked away from her sister. Fer, clad in those thick animal skins, laid those golden cat eyes on Kavaa. Of Health shivered and instinctively took a step back. “NO! FER!” Kassandora shouted as Fer launched herself at Kavaa.

Kavaa stood there, stunned. She wouldn’t have time to draw her sword even if she could stand up to that monster. Then Fer’s trajectory changed, Kassandora was holding onto her leg. Of War dug her feet into the ground, twisted, and slammed Fer into the ground. “Owie.” Fer moaned. “That hurt little sister.”

Little?Kavaa blinked again, her mouth agape. Helenna was staring just as much. Memories of the Great War spiralled in front of Kavaa’s eyes. Of Kassandora’s unbeatable leadership. Of Fer’s savage hordes. The destruction they left, were they passed, nothing but broken bodies and burned homes was left. Andthiswas them? Kassandora straddled Fer, took her arm, bent it backwards and wagged her finger at the woman. She actually wagged her finger? Kavaa would have fallen to her knees in shock if her body hadn’t frozen. She saw Sara and Ilwin have the same reaction, and then Iliyal just stood there, bored, hands on his head with his fingers interlocked. The wind gently rippled through his red cloak. How could he look bored at this? “BAD!” Kassandora shouted. “NO!” She grabbed Fer’s hair and forced her to look at directly at Kavaa.

Kavaa took another step back, mouth agape. Fer smiled and laughed, a spine-chillinghur-hur-hurof a laugh. “THAT IS KAVAA!” Kassandora shouted. “SHE IS GOOD NOW!” Fer laughed thathur-hur-hur again.

“Are you good?” Neneria said from behind Kavaa. Chills raced down her spine again.

“NENERIA! DON’T SCARE HER!” Kassandora shouted.

“You’re no fun little Kassie.” Kassandora let go of her Fer’s head, her cheeks going red. Fer laughed again. “Shouldn’t have done that.” She said, twisted, her fist landed in Kassandora’s stomach. Of War grunted, was grabbed, and in the next moment, the position had reversed. Fer pinned Kassandora between her knees, leaned down, and pulled her cheek. “That’s what you get.”

“Ge-get off me.” Kavaa watched Kassandora pushed up against Fer, she saw the woman struggle, her face go red. She must have looked like that when she tried to lift Kassandora’s sword… If there was any blood to drain from her cheeks, it would have drained again. Fer did not get off her. She sat on Kassandora, arms crossed and looking down at her, until Of War gave up. “Y-you win.” Kassandora said.

“There we go.” Fer said and stood up. Kassandora tried to get up, then was hefted to her feet by Fer like a doll. “So, what did you call us for? Dad didn’t say.” Kavaa blinked.

D-d-d-dad? She couldn’t… Arascus? Who else would they consider a father? Helenna grabbed Kavaa’s hand, then the two of them stood there. There was only one question on her mind.

How greatly had the Pantheon failed?

“We lost Iniri.” Kassandora said and pointed to the jungle. Fer crossed her arms, closed her eyes and nodded.

“Mmh, I like her.” Kavaa blinked. Fer liked Iniri? Excuse me?

“The Jungle took her.” Fer smiled wickedly, her fangs exposed to the air.

“And you needed me?” Kassandora sighed, dropped her arms, and looked utterly defeated.

“Yes… I needed you Fer.” Her tone was the exact same as her posture, simply dismal.

“What do you say?”

“Please.” Kassandora said.

“Who’s the best big sister?”

“You are… Fer.” Fer burst out in laughter and slapped Kassandora on her back. The Goddess of War stumbled forwards as Kavaa felt Helenna’s hand tighten around hers. If that slap had hit Kavaa, her spine would have snapped.

“They’re always like this.” Neneria said quietly from behind them. “Just ignore them.” Kavaa jumped when she remembered who was standing behind them and took a few forwards, pulling Helenna along with her. Neneria turned and looked at the jungle. “It doesn’t seem too impressive.” She commented. “Obviously supernatural, but not impressive.”

“It’s…” Kavaa’s voice left her as Kassandora approached them Fer. Of Beasthood was suddenly all smiles, she looked around at her Clerics, they all took a step back, then at Iliyal, Ilwin and Sara. Those she gave a bright smile to, then to Arikans. Her ears quivered curiously and she tilted her head as she looked at them.

“It’s a Divine.” Kassandora said. “How, I don’t know. But the Jungle is one Divine.”

“Oh.” Neneria said. “That is interesting.”

“It’s stronger than I am.” Kassandora said. “And it took Iniri, I believe it can assimilate, if eats Iniri then it will be unstoppable.”

“Against ghosts too?” Neneria asked.

“Try it if you want.” Kassandora said as she turned to her men. “SOKOLOWSKI, COME HERE!” Fer looked at the papers on the table, made a disgusted face and turned to look at the Arikans. They stood there, holding their weapons, looking half-humoured, half-shocked and half-curious. Then Fer sniffed the air, she looked at Helenna, at her hand.

“I smell blood.” She said. “Yours.” Helenna nodded quickly.

“I see.” Fer turned to the Jungle, her tone suddenly became annoyed. “Does it ever shut up?” Kassandora stopped, her face in utter terror. Neneria turned to Fer as if she was crazy, the dark Arikans suddenly looked pale and Helenna practically wrapped herself around Kavaa’s arm.

“You can hear it? From here?”

“You can’t?” Fer asked. “It’s very loud, and I don’t mean just because of these.” The ears on top of her head bounced.

“What’s it saying?” Fer turned and made that wicked smile again. She licked her lips.

“It’s telling me it doesn’t like me very much, and that I’m on its hunting grounds.” Her eyes became sharp, her tone sharp. “And to go back to my own lands.”

“It’s not calling you?” Kassandora asked and Fer shook her head.

“No, it simply does not like me. Like when jaguars meet each other.” Kassandora turned to the Arikans.

“Have you ever heard of something like this?” Arusei shook his head.

“Never, not once. There is not a tale about the Jungle telling someone to stay away.”

“Do you think she can enter?” Kassandora asked and Fer laughed. She cracked her fingers.

“Oh I will little Kassie.” Kassandora’s cheeks became red again for moment before she contained them. Kavaa was still baffled that this was the same commanding Kassandora she had met with before. “I have to thank you for this present, it has been a long time since I’ve found something I want to hunt.” She finally pulled her face away from the trees and gave Kassandora a thumbs up. “Good job.” Kassandora stood there as if she was about to give up. Eventually, she took a heavy breath.

“Well then we continue. This is the plan.” Kassandora began. “Fer, there is Iniri’s clothes basket, you can track her through that, right?”

“Don’t insult me like that Kassie, of course I can.”

“You, Kavaa, Neneria, and I will go in. Helenna, you will stay here. We’ll find her, and we’ll get out.” Fer sighed.

“Just that?” Fer asked.

“I don’t really know how to fight a jungle Fer, do you?” Fer looked at the green mass in the distance, thought for a moment and shook her head.

“You make a very good point.”

“I will ride on Pegaz from above then.” Neneria said quietly.

“I was expecting you on the ground with us.” Kassandora said.

“I don’t want to dirty my dress.” Neneria said, she turned to Kassandora and stared her sister down. “I will not dirty my dress.” Kassandora sighed and gave up.

“Very well, you will ride from above.”

“Excellent.” Neneria said and Kavaa blinked. This was Kassandora? Since when did people make demands to Kassandora? What was this?

“We are out of our league.” Helenna whispered quietly from Kavaa’s side.

“We are.” Kavaa agreed.

“Fer, I have prepared blood for you. It’s Helenna’s, so it’s Divine.” Kassandora said and pointed to the canisters on the table. “Don’t drin-“

“I know, I know.” Fer said, she ignored the canteens entirely and walked up to Helenna. Kavaa didn’t know what she should do. Kassandora was far stronger than her, and if Fer tossed Kassandora around like a doll then what would she do to her? Fer bent down to Helenna. Kavaa had never been insecure of her height, she wasn’t the tallest, but she was in the top quarter, but against Fer? The woman towered over her. If the Sun was right, Kavaa could fit in her shadow. “You have blood on your hand.” Fer said and Helenna nodded. Kavaa felt Helenna’s grip tighten like a vice.

“I do.” Helenna said quietly. Fer tilted her head, sniffed the air, and patted Helenna’s head.

“It’s very sweet, you eat too much sugar.” Helenna’s hair turned white.

“I…”

“And drink too much wine.”

“FER! BAD!” Kassandora shouted. “Stop wasting time and get to smelling!” Fer looked at Kavaa, made a horribly mopey face, and rolled her yellow eyes and wandered past them to the basket. Kavaa watched Kassandora approach her men and begin to give a speech. “Soldiers! There is an enemy behind us greater than anything I’ve ever faced. Today, I enter alone, but your strength enters with me! I ask for you have!” Magic spilled from her, it touched each of her men, and then it came racing back.

The process took less than thirty seconds. One by one, her men started to faint. Damian Sokolowski was the last man standing. He collapsed too and Kassandora turned. Her crimson hair was practically glowing. Armour appeared around her body, Joyeuse materialized into her hands and she gave the greatsword a swing. Kavaa could not even think of swinging her own longsword as easily as Kassandora swung that monster. They loaded the canteens on themselves, twelve on Kavaa, twelve on Kassandora, twelve on Fer. Neneria absolutely refused to take any. Kavaa was in position to negotiate with the Goddess of Death, and Kassandora gave up after Neneria’s first denial. Fer did not seem to care whatsoever.

“I have the scent.” The Goddess of Beasthood said as she stood on the hill.

“Already?” Kassandora asked.

“Already.” Fer confirmed. She pointed to a random patch of ground near the jungle. “Over there is where she was taken.” Kassandora turned to Helenna.

“She’s correct, it happened over there.” Helenna said.

“No time to waste then. Kavaa, stay behind us but stay close. Fer leads, follow her directions. I command, all of you follow my orders.”

“Little Kassie is very good at orders.” Fer said. Kavaa did not know if that was sarcasm or not. Of Beasthood then made that horriblehur-hur-hurof a snicker as Kassandora grew red with embarrassment again. Fer began before Kassandora recovered, she walked quickly, the party of Kavaa and Kassandora, with Neneria on her ghostly horse above them struggled to keep up.

Fer gave the air a sniff, she walked to the edge of the Jungle and growled at it, then took one of her canteens and drank all of it immediately. Kavaa looked to Kassandora, the woman was shaking her head, but said nothing. Fer threw the animal skins off herself as fur sprouted across her body. Her nails became claws, her ears grew and became sharper, Kavaa watched of Beasthood’s skin turn leathery and the woman grow a foot taller. And then she roared.

If an explosion could be unleashed from vocal cords, then it would be that roar.

She turned, looked at Kavaa, looked at Kassandora, then at Neneria. One claw pointed at the Goddess of Death. “You do not go in.” Neneria stopped in mid-air.

“Why?” Neneria asked. Kassandora stopped too, as did Kavaa, her hand resting on the blade still sheathed on her belt. “Why Fer?” Kassandora adopted a battle stance and Kavaa heard her whisper.

“If she’s taken by the Jungle, then run.” Fer’s ears jumped about at that whisper.

“Little Kassie, it has not taken my mind. You can go in, as can Kavaa. Not Nene.”

“Why?” Kassandora shouted.

“Because her blood is sweet and heart is warm, you two are both bitter and cold.” Fer shouted. “It will take her, it will not take you.” Kassandora dropped the posture and then looked at Neneria. The Goddess of Death looked at them from above, then shrugged.

“I did not want to go in anyway.” She said, her horse turned in midair, and then trotted back to camp.

“How do we know it will not take you?” Kassandora shouted and Fer revealed those pointed fangs in a smile again.

“Because when a tiger meets a bear, they can flee or they can fight. There is no such thing as tigers and bears living together.” She turned, lifted her clawed arm and slashed at the greenery. “Come now, I will make a path, stay close.”

Fer stepped into the Jungle’s demesne, and the two behind her followed.