38 Divergence (2/2)

A coiled snake tail was wrapped around it, but quickly slithered off out of view as glowing green eyes loomed overhead. ”Whose there? I can feel your vibrations drawing closer.” Called the female voice in the darkness. This forced the group to grow defensive, they quickly looked around to notice a silhouette of what seemed to be a female naga. Her tail rattled, as her snake-like hair slithered closer to flick their tongue towards them. ”I've been soooooo.... hungry...”

”Djinn? Have you been down here all this time!?” Eclipse gasped, pushing herself to the front of the group to confront the snake Terra.

”That voice.... Eclipse? Is that you?” The Terra named Djinn inquired, as she slithered out of the shadows towards them.

”Yes, yes it's me. I had no idea Aoba locked you down here in this pit...” Eclipse drew closer.

”Do you know her?” Ashewyn glanced to Eclipse, just as Nye and the others joined them to see the naga before them.

”I do. Djinn was a friend of mine, and she was planning to join the rest of the Terra with me, but Aoba...” Eclipse held her chest, appearing upset. ”... He couldn't see passed her weakness and sent her away. I had wondered what became of her...” Eclipse explained, turning back to Djinn. ”...But I had no idea he's kept you hidden all this time.”

”It's not your fault, Eclipse... I know that. It's so good to hear your voice again.” Djinn seemed to absently stare, but her expression carried distress. ”It is true. Aoba cast me away... because I am blind. I cannot see any of you... I hope I did not scare your friends, Eclipse... I am just so hungry after being locked down here for so long.” She said, attempting to look where she assumed the others were.

”It's okay, we're not going to leave you down here. Come with us, I no longer side with that man. You'll be able to live the way you want, back in the sunlight. Once we're out of here, we'll get you some food.” Eclipse placed her hand to Djinn's shoulder.

The Terra smiled, with a tear rolling down her cheek. ”You have no idea how happy this makes me.” She said, hugging Eclipse.

”I think I have an idea.” Eclipse smiled back, and turned to the others once the hug broke. ”Now that everyone is here, we should search for a way out.”

”I'm sure you know this place better than most of us. Any idea how we can get back to the surface from here.” Nye spoke up, looking to Eclipse.

”I'd have to think about that. I'm certain though, Aoba has his Pegasus and dragon riders circling the skies like sentries. He will stop at nothing to hunt down those who cross him. I assume he's focusing on Heath and Rocky right now, but once he realizes that we found a way out of this hole, there's no stopping him.” Eclipse explained, looking back to Nye.

”She's got a point. Not really much options if he's got Dragon's Keep all bailed up.” Maxwhyld added.

”Oy, you're bloody saying that bastard has the Tower locked up?” Solitaire gasped, getting frustrated.

”Zyron's still there, isn't he?” Ashewyn looked to Solitaire.

”He ain't the only only one. Sally is there too.” Maxwhyld mentioned, trying to calm them down.

”Heath would have gotten him and the others out by now. We're supposed to rendezvous with them at our secret hideout. Don't worry, I'm sure everyone is safe.” Eclipse tried to reassure them.

”Guessing we're not leaving the way we came... So. What now?” Miles glanced to Nye.

”I suppose the best we can do is look for an exit at this point, and go from there.” Nye replied.

As the proceeded further into the darkness, Eclipse glanced to Nye from her side of the group. Some of the others were uneasy about Djinn, but seeing she was friends with Eclipse made it easier to travel with her. They continued further, hoping to find a way out.

”Your name is Nyghtmare, correct?” Eclipse spoke up, glancing to Nye.

”Aye, and you're friends with Ashewyn?” Nye replied, looking over to the elf.

”I'm not sure what you'd call it really. We just keep crossing paths is all. However, I would like to pose an alliance with you and your friends. As you can imagine after that skirmish back there, neither of our parties approve of the templar ways. As it is, we're outnumbered by the abundance of conscripting Knights joining the Templar on a daily basis. I was thinking, with you being the Queen of Fiends, you must have quite the following.” Eclipse explained, continuing the conversation with Nye.

”Unfortunately, I'm actually not the Queen of Fiends. I'm basically a unwilling scapegoat, to hide the real Queen. I suspect this is how word got to the Templar. However, I wouldn't object to an alliance. My friends and I want to see things put right, so if we're fighting for the same cause then working together is better than working alone.” Nye replied, showing willingness to cooperate.

”Oh I see. It's unfortunate, but even so, we cannot always control our fates. Who you are doesn't matter, it's what you do that's important. I am surprised you have the Angel of Death at your side, but you had mentioned that he was wrongly judged. If you trust him, then I won't question it, as long as we can work together and put an end to the Templar.” Eclipse nodded, understanding the situation.

”I'm sure the rest of us are doing the same, in trusting Djinn. I don't suspect there will be any conflict. So, I believe we have ourselves an alliance.” Nye replied, as the two shook on it.

As they turned to face their path, the group approached what sounded to be the echo of flowing water. As they drew nearer, a faint light shined above the glistening water of the chasm that escaped through the opening. Outside, there were Pegasus and dragon riders circling the night sky. From the looks of it, the waterfall dropped all the way down to the ocean below.

Ashewyn drew closer, to peer outside to the night sky. ”I think we may have found our exit.”He stated, before turning back to look at the others.

Nye drew closer to get a look as well. ”It appears so.” She said, Jackyn beside to the examine it as well.

There also appeared to be enough cover from the rock formations of the island, to block their descent from the hovering Templar sentries. Eclipse walked up beside Ashewyn, eyeing the sky. ”If we're careful we may be able to pull this off without any of them seeing us.” She mentioned.

”Pretty risky, innit? That's a long drop down.” Solitaire sounded a bit nervous. ”I don't exactly do so well with heights.” She said in a hushed tone to Nye.

”whoa-whoa-whoa! Hold on now! You're n-not thinking about seriously considering this, right? Are you guys crazy!? That's a waterfall, with water at the bottom of a MASSIVE drop!”Miles gawked, getting completely paranoid about this plan.

”What, scared of a little water? Don't tell me you can't swim?” Ashewyn crossed his arms.

”I-I don't like water, okay?! H-Heights too!” Miles shivered.

”Typical cat.” Jackyn remarked, glancing boredly over at Miles.

”S-Shut up!” Miles pouted.

”I know it's risky, but we're limited on options, Miles.” Nye glanced to the nervous feline.

”Look, I ain't thrilled bout this either mate, but sometimes you gotta take risks.” Maxwhyld added.

”If it makes you feel any better, I have no idea what we're about to do. I can't even see what frightens you.” Djinn spoke up.

”.......” Miles stared to the water, crossing his arms as he felt the uneasiness engulfing him.

His dread was sinking further and further in, but he knew there was no way out of this. Maxwhyld was already climbing into the water with Solitaire and Eclipse climbing onto his back. Djinn slithered after them, holding onto Eclipse's hand to be guided along with them.

”Can't we just f-fly down?” Miles chattered, looking to Nye.

”If you want to be an easier target for those sentries. Come on Miles, we're wasting time.” Nye replied, taking Jackyn's hand.

The feline watched as everyone else got into the flowing stream of water without him. It began to carry them closer to the edge, were the water came crashing down to the surface below. His heart sank as one by one they went over, moving in unison with the body of water.

Miles grew frantic, running to the end of the fall. ”W-Wait! Don't leave without me!!” He shouted out, losing his footing, only to fall into the rushing water.

The flow carried them all down, and gradually everyone surfaced for air as they reached the large mass below. ”Is everyone alright?” Eclipse called out, seeing that they all made it without injury.

Soon enough they all swam for the water's edge, reaching a vast forest that circled around the dragon's keep tower. The party was completely drenched, with excess water dripping from their soaking wet hair and clothes. Miles shook himself off, to remove as much water as he could. It was clear that being wet made him very uncomfortable.

”The rendezvous point should be hidden just up ahead. Keep your heads low just in case, we're still within Templar territory.” Eclipse explained, leading the others into the woods ahead.

Some distance into the surrounding wilderness, was a campsite set in front of a campfire. Sitting around it was Heath and Sally, speaking with what seemed to be Vaugn. Heath was going on about having Vaugn join them, in a much similar way that he had done with Zyron. Off to the side, Rocky was laying down after having been bandaged up, smoking a cigarette. Talis was resting inside the tent that they had pitched up, in a make-shift nest of sorts. Surrounding her were freshly laid eggs, with their mother's tail coil around them as she rested. Grave had gotten bored of Heath's offer to Vaugn and came up behind Zyron and Ronan who kept at a distance from the others. She sniffed Zyron, getting too close into his personal space, making the male Vulpis uncomfortable.

”Hey, knock it off, kid!” Zyron growled, shoving her out of his face. ”Go bug your master or something!”

”MAKE ME!” Grave barked, ignoring Zyron's demand. ”I'm gonna smell you,you're gonna like it!!”

Zyron flared his teeth, pushing her back. ”Take a fucking hint, and GET out of MY FUCKING FACE!!!!”

Grave instinctively decided to clamp down on his hand, letting her teeth bite down on Zyron hard. ”Grrrr!!!” She snarled.

”AKKKK!!!!!” Zyron yelped, and both dogs growled and barked at each other.

”Grave.” Vaugn looked over with a displeased expression. Quickly Grave released her hold on Zyron and scampered back over to Vaugn, sitting down behind soft whining and whimpering. Vaugn pattered her head. ”They got us out of trouble, the least you can do is behave yourself.” He sighed.

”Awe.... Okay, fine. I'll play nice....” Grave pouted, her tail wrapping under her.

As that fight was broken up, a rustling came from the bushes and trees not far from them. This forced the group to grow silent, as they waited to see what was coming. Emerging from the brush was Nye, Eclipse and the others.

Upon seeing Solitaire, Zyron's face lit up with happiness rushing to her to hug her. ”... I missed you...” He whispered.

”I missed you too, Ronnie.” She replied in a hushed tone as she hugged him back, forgetting that others could see them.

As the hug broke, Zyron looked to Miles with his expression shifting to uncertainty, but upon noticing his removed digits, he eased up with a more concerned expression. Even Ronan seemed surprised by the other feline's condition. Maxwhyld had also quickly limped over to Sally, so that both centaurs could have their happy reunion as well. There was an unsettling feeling however as Nye and Vaugn exchanged a glance. This though was broken and Heath approached Eclipse.

”Lady Spymaster. Unfortunately only half of our forces will be able to make the journey to the Forest of Guidance. Talis had her eggs while we were away, and it's not wise to move her again. Oh, I nearly forgot, this is Vaugn and Grave. They'll be joining forces with us, but for now I suggest half of us remain here while the rest of us makes the trek for our new base.” Heath explained.

”Very well, we'll do whatever we have to do for the time being.” She said before glancing to Vaugn. ”I remember your face.” Eclipse remarked, at the man who appeared surprised to see her. ”Hmm... Perhaps I'm mistaken, never the less, welcome aboard.”

Heath smiled, turning to gaze to Djinn, in astonishment. ”Djinn? I'm surprised to see you again. I'm not sure how you and Eclipse came across each other but I'm happy that you're able to join us.”

Eclipse walked over to Nye's group, leaving Heath to catch up with Djinn. ”I suspect that you and the others must be taking your leave. Well, hopefully from here on out we have a better advantage working together. Let's meet soon to discuss what direction we should proceed next.”

”Aye, it's about time we get back. If you need anything just let us know.” Nye replied.

”Same goes for you. Safe travels.” Eclipse bid farewell.

Nye and her group prepared to leave, but Miles turned to Nye. ”Nye. I wanna stay here and help them. I've been a lot of trouble for you guys recently, and maybe a change of setting will be good for me.”

Nye glanced back, with others not far from her. She wasn't sure what to say, and the others seemed surprised as well. Nye paused for a moment, before speaking up. ”If you want to lead your own path, go right ahead. You know where to find us if you want to come home.” She smiled.

Miles seemed like he was about to tear up, but stepped forward to hug Nye. ”Thanks Nye. Stay safe. Hey... Could you maybe send Ember my way?”

”Of course, I'll make sure your bird makes it to you. Take care, Miles. We'll be in touch.” Nye replied, before She led the others back in the direction of Knothole.

Ashewyn and Eclipse shared one last glance before the group departed. There was something hidden behind that exchanged glanced, but the feline wasn't sure what. Instead, Miles watched Nye leave, followed by Jackyn, Ashewyn, Zyron and Solitaire; seeing them vanish into the distance. Behind him, Heath had gathered his brother, along with the centaur, Vaugn and Grave to depart the opposite way. This left Miles to keep watch of the camp with Ronan, while Eclipse and Djinn looked after Talis inside the tent. He glanced to the other Lugooz in silence, both peered back to see Talis quickly hug Djinn, clearly excited to see her again. It was up to them to protect these girls now...