Mors Funebris Ch. 2 P 7

Mors Funebris Chapter 2 Part 7
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Corporal Tia, had just entered Arawn’s barrack building, when she heard him shouting at someone, again. The sound of which made her stop walking momentarily and then hiss in frustrated anger.
“Go Away!” Tia heard him shout angrily then, his voice echoing down the hallway. But even as angry as he was then, she also detected a hint of desperation in his voice.
This time, she didn’t know who or what he was going on about, nor did she care anymore. Ever since the Automaton incident a couple of weeks ago, it’d been a trying time for him and her both; In and out of the Infirmary.
It’d taken Tia several attempts, before she managed to convince the Medical Director of the Infirmary, to discharge Arawn despite the lack of progress in his case.
Normally, the Director would’ve refused outright the notion of letting anything less than healed patient out of her control. As expected, the Healing-Majin in the Infirmary, were able take care of Tia’s and Jinks’ injuries in fairly short order.
Unfortunately, Arawn had proven to not be so easily fixed as Tia or Jinks. As a result, the Director had called in many favors from friends and associates to advance his condition. Unfortunately, she ended up nearly tearing her hair out in frustration, when it came to finding any and every available Healing spell, Holy Artifact, or potion that would affect Arawn positively.
The Director’s frustration grew by leaps and bounds as the days flew by. Despite everything, she was able to produce no less than over a dozen locally available Medical Majin of differing stripes and persuasions. She invited six priests from an equal number of theologies when the Majin failed, and finally one half-witted, yet highly recommended shaman who ‘just happened’ to be passing through. To her and their collective dismay every one of them had proven equally ineffective in his, her, or its, ability to erase Arawn’s injuries.
As a result, Arawn’s condition had only marginally improved as his own glacially slow healing continued on its own pace. To Tia’s complete lack of surprise, Arawn had been having the most difficult time getting a decent amount of restful sleep after his discharge.
This was partly due to his suffering a great deal of pain, both from his original injuries, but also due to the surgeries that had been needed to be performed upon him. All in an effort to put him back together and keep him that way.
It also turned out that since none of the surgical anesthetics had ended up working on him, most of the surgery staff had been left traumatized with the experience of operating on an awake and fully cognizant patient.
‘Two hundred and eighty-three stitches, just for the first surgery.’ Tia reminded herself in that moment, as she stood outside his apartment door while trying to hold onto her temper.
 ‘They even approached me to supply them with some of my silk for those stitches, during near the end of his first operation.’
As she entered through the propped open door, left open to capture the evening’s cooling breeze, Tia saw that Arawn was standing shakily upright in the living room area of his apartment, supported by his holding onto a nearby chair with one arm.
She noticed that his other burned and twisted arm was still hanging uselessly in a sling. It was then that Tia noticed who it was that he’d been shouting at: Nurse Elspeth. She was the Shoggoth currently assigned to Arawn’s caretaking in his apartment. From what Tia could see then in that moment, Arawn’s had been shouting enough unkind words to cause her to cry.
“ARAWN!” Tia shouted angrily then, as she shook with a frustrated desire to throttle him. Tia was somewhat mollified to see that she’d managed to at least get his attention. “What is your problem this time?!” she demanded.
 “Mentor?” Arawn replied slowly, blinking with surprise both at her sudden appearance and her vehemence. “What are you,…?” he began, but he was immediately interrupted when Tia spoke once more.
“BE QUIET!” she shouted again, pointing a fur covered finger in his face. She had done so loudly enough to cause the third person in the party to jump, and quiver, in consternation. “I have listened to you and your belly aching quite long enough!”
“Mmmm,…” Arawn almost spoke again, but then stopped when he finally noticed that Tia had become angry enough to involuntarily extend her venom teeth.
‘Perhaps now would be a good time to follow your Mentor’s advice and remain silent. (5)’ Quintus pointed out then to Arawn/Primus.
 Arawn didn’t reply verbally to Quintus, though he did send a withering blast of annoyance.
Then, working to get his own anger under control, he closed his eyes and firmly shut his mouth to ward off any untoward comments. Observing his actions, Corporal Tia found herself calming down just the teeniest bit.
‘Relax Tia, he’s been in a lot of pain and it’s only natural for him to be snappy. You’d be that way too.’ Tia thought to herself, as she allowed her own breathing to calm as she shifted her attention. ‘But even that, doesn’t excuse his behavior with those who’ve been assigned to take care of him.’
“Elspeth? Are you all right?” Tia asked, as she shifted her attention to the Nurse/Shoggoth.
In response to her entreaty, Elspeth turned her yellow-iris eyes to face Tia full on, yet she didn’t quite meet her gaze as she was too busy blinking away tears from every one of the eyes that lay across her person. Instead, she kept silent as she kept her arms folded resentfully, all the while she pointedly refused to look in Arawn’s direction, obviously hurt by his recent commentary.
Tia took that moment to look Elspeth over. To her eyes, she seemed much akin to the standard Shoggoth form that Tia had encountered before: a slime-like monster girl with a set of eye-pleasing feminine curves. She stood approximately two meters tall and had herself with a rich lavender skin, and many yellow irised eyes adorned with a black pupil and sclera. There, the similarities ended.
Unlike every other Shoggoth who had a conical form from her waist down, Elspeth had mastered the ability to appear almost fully human. This meant that she’d been able to create herself a pair of legs, so well designed, that they ended in a pair of shoe-clad feet. Additionally, not once could Tia see any of the usual ‘shoggoth-drip’ that plagued every other one of Elspeth’s sisters. Which was a definite plus for any Medical personnel.
In addition to her legs, Elspeth had, unlike her brunette-haired sisters, long ago learned how to reproduce a head of flaming red hair. Currently, that ‘hair’ of hers was curled up into a conservative bun on the crest of her head. That bun matched the severe Nurses’ uniform that she’d formed upon her person.
As Tia had seen when she’d entered Arawn’s apartment, Elspeth held numerous eyes that normally would have blinked themselves into existence seemingly at random. They then stared at everything around her and then closed unexpectedly, leaving behind a seamless surface. This time however, all of those eyes shed copious amounts of tears as a result of Arawn’s jagged tongue. Tia felt the fires of her anger rise as a result.
 “Arawn?” Tia hissed suddenly, Arawn opened his eyes in response and resentfully matched her gaze.
“What is wrong this time?” she demanded. After several seconds of patient silence on her part he began to speak.
“I do not,…” he stated slowly, “have need of her services!” he growled in consternation, while he let go of the table chair long enough to wave a hand at Elspeth.
He then started to quiver, as if he were about to fall. He immediately grabbed ahold of the chair that had been supporting him a second ago.
Tia’s attention was diverted for a second when she noticed that Elspeth, despite the harsh words Arawn had bestowed upon her, had given an involuntary start and reached out to support him. Which caused Tia to smile inwardly at her professional demeanor. Tia then stepped closer to the pair.
“And by whose diagnosis do you come by that conclusion?” Tia asked Arawn pointedly, he then shot his head around to glare at her. Or he would’ve glared, if that sudden spasm of pain caused by his angry jerking had allowed it.
Instead, he gave out a gasp of pain and stumbled his position against the chair and began to pant. Elspeth reached out hesitantly to him again, still determined to aid her undeserving patient.
“Arawn,” Tia began, “Elspeth is the nurse assigned to you. Let her do her job.” She said quietly, trying her best to be reasonable.
“I do not want her help!” Arawn shot back painfully, in between his panting for breath. To which Elspeth’s look of concern, was replaced by one of an insulted hurt. Noticing it, Tia began to speak but was interrupted by the Shoggoth Nurse.
“I’m sorry that you don’t care for my kind Yokai Basic Arawn!” Elspeth shouted then in her wounded pride, her purplish form quivering with her anger, “But I’m the one who’s assigned to you. So get over your hatreds, and allow me to do my job in the here and now!” she said vehemently as she reached out to him once more.
“I DO NOT HATE YOU!” he shouted back at her with a rasp, lifting his head to glare while waving a hand to ward her away. “I am trying to,…” he continued, and then sagged to breathe deeply.
“Trying to what?” Elspeth demanded indignantly then, her mouth set to a frown.
“Protect you!” Arawn gasped.
“Protect me?!” Elspeth shouted back, her voice shaking with sarcasm. “From what? Your acid tongue?” she demanded.
“Wait!” Tia yelled loudly then, getting both of their attention. “I think I know what’s going on here.” She continued. “Give me a second Elspeth, and I’ll explain in more detail to you later. Right Now!” Tia spoke commandingly as she turned her attention to Arawn. “Arawn will allow you to help him or whatever it is that he was doing out of bed…” she began.
“Water!” he rasped, Tia looked at him questioningly. “Thirsty!” he barked. Tia nodded in understanding.
“Very well then Arawn, I hereby order you to allow yourself to be ‘nursed’ by Elspeth from this moment on. Do I make myself clear?” Tia stated firmly to Arawn then. His only reply at first, was to glare resentfully back at her, and after a moment of staring at each other, he was the first to look away. He nodded his head once wearily.
Within a short amount of time, Arawn was seated at his living room area chair, slowly sipping at the cup of water that Elspeth had provided for him. Taking Elspeth aside, Tia began to explain what she thought Arawn’s motivation was for making her life so difficult.
“So what is his problem?” Elspeth demanded archly, her arms firmly at her sides, her chin jutting forward while she stared at Tia with most of her eyes.
“It’s not that he’s prejudiced against Shoggoth, Elspeth.” Tia began, as she observed the nurse’s indignant frown.
“Really? He certainly gave me that impression!” Elspeth shot back then, her head eyes boring into Arawn for a moment.
“On the contrary, I’d be willing to guess that he’s more concerned with harming you.” Tia replied.
“What is that supposed to mean?” Elspeth’s eyes flared open with perplexion.
“It means that,…” Tia began and then stopped, trying to find a way to explain, and failing.
“Look, do you see this apartment?” Tia asked, waving her arms around her to indicate Arawn’s rooms. Confused, Elspeth looked around for a moment.
“How big is it?” Tia asked.
“It’s the standard size for a married couple’s apartment. What of it?” Elspeth demanded.
“And yet Arawn doesn’t have a mate, does he?”
“Ummm, no. He doesn’t.” Elspeth replied doubtfully, looking back at Arawn with a raised eyebrow. “
Why does he have such an apartment all to himself?” She asked.
“He was supposed to arrive with another Shoggoth, named Takana. She is a Medical Doctor.” Tia explained.
“Oh!” Elspeth replied in surprise once Tia had finished. “I’ve heard of her! I’d been looking forward to working with a Sister! It’s so rare for another Shoggoth to be more than just a Maid.” She stopped and thought about it for a second.
“So, he was the one she’d been mated with?” she asked, turning and looking at Arawn with a wondering look on her face.
“Correct.” Arawn spoke up then, still not looking at either the Shoggoth or the Jumping Spider.
“So why didn’t she come here yet?” Elspeth asked.
“Because of me.” Arawn interjected. “I harmed her.”
“What?!” Elspeth replied, alarmed as she glared menacingly at him. “What did you do to her?!” she demanded forcefully
“I do not know what precisely I did to harm her.” He whispered, just barely within the ability of Tia to hear him.
“Would that I could know, so as to be able to do something about it!” he replied, looking up at Elspeth mournfully. Tia saw that Elspeth seemed about ready to say something else, but instead she closed her mouth and thought about what he’d said for a moment.
“Wait,” she said finally, “Is this why you’re acting so dreadfully right now, isn’t it?” she asked. “You’re afraid of doing to me, whatever it is you did to Takana?” she stated. Arawn looked at her for a moment and then looked away with a nod.
Elspeth’s look then flowed from one of an angry outrage into a surprised frown. “You were thinking of me and my well-being first.” She said appreciatively, as her eyes softened. Arawn still refused to meet those eyes. Elspeth smiled at him then. “I envy Takana, already.” She finished.
“Do not!” Arawn replied acidly. “The last I had heard of her, she was left in a bowl at Royal Makai unable to form so much as a single eye. She’d lost so much of her elasticity then.”  Arawn’s words had the effect of causing Elsepth to back away in shock.
“THAT!” he began, “is how much of a danger I am to you!” he rasped then. But, before Tia or Elspeth could tender a reply, another person’s voice called out.
“That still remains to be seen.” Said the third person commandingly. Arawn, Elspeth, and Tia all turned to see the source of that voice. Corporal Tia spoke first.
“Major Calliope!” Tia half-shouted in surprise then. “To what do we owe the pleasure of your company?” she asked. Calliope herself, was a Dark Mage who as usual was just barely dressed. She wore the standard Dark Mage wide brimmed purple hat, that did well to shield her from the heat of Cynonsure’s summer sun.
But, she also wore the standard light XXXX dress that so many of the Cynosure ladies did. This ephemeral dress didn’t do much to hide her ample physical charms, which was probably the point. Along her back she wore the ever present Dark Mage satchel.
“Greetings Corporal Tia.” Calliope replied, nodding to her, and to Nurse Elspeth, then finally fixed her attention to Arawn. “I am sorry to report Arawn, but General Scathach has once again denied your request.” She stated sadly then, shaking her head slightly.
“Damnatus!” Arawn replied angrily. “Does our Commanding Officer intentionally spill her better sense every time she removes her head?!” he muttered to himself. Calliope’s only reply was to smile bemusedly and look away.
“What?” Tia demanded, looking between Arawn and Calliope. “Are you two talking about?”
“Let me explain!” Calliope stated patiently as she raised a questioning eyebrow at Arawn, asking for permission. After he nodded his acquiescence she then turned and faced Tia.
“What we are referring to,” Calliope began hesitantly as she looked around herself momentarily, almost as if she were afraid of speaking, ”is the Invocation that is known as, the Yama-Naraka.” She whispered hoarsely, and then shuddered involuntarily.
As soon as Tia heard the name, she made a full body jerk as she felt a chill go up every one of her legs. Looking up, she noticed that Elspeth had flinched as well. Seeing everyone, Tia found herself alarmedd by the group’s reaction.
“What is the,…” Tia began as she tried to speak the words, “Yam,…Yam,…” and then she stopped when she found that she couldn’t make herself say it. Which caused her to become even more confused despite the fact that Calliope had just spoken it only a few seconds ago.
“What the?” she asked, perplexed at this sudden inability to speak. Looking around she noticed that Elspeth had seemingly drawn into herself momentarily, akin to a sea anemone. Tia then noticed that Calliope’s skin had paled almost to a grey tinged white. Only Arawn seemed to be the only one unaffected by its utterance.
“It,’ Arawn began solidly, gaining everyone’s attention there, “Is the one sole healing magic that will prove efficacious in my healing.” He finished, lowering his head down to his chest wearily.
“If it can do that?” Tia demanded angrily then, “Then why would you even need to bother with getting permission?!”
“Because it is an Ancient Magic, a Fell Magic.” Elspeth replied and then shuddered as she turned herself away. Calliope looked thoughtfully at her when she did.
“I still don’t understand!” Tia replied, still confused.
“Arawn, if you would?” Calliope asked him. Arawn nodded. “I will leave him to explain it to you. I just had a sudden thought. If you will excuse me, I will need to consult with Nurse Elspeth momentarily.” She explained, and then she and Elspeth stepped further into Arawn’s apartment rooms. Tia then turned to Arawn to wait for an explanation.
“Why didn’t you tell me that such a Magic was even available?’ Tia demanded angrily then, her fur standing up in outrage. “If you knew it existed, why did you keep it from me?” She hissed. His answer, shocked her.
“Because Tia, it is one of the few forms of Magic that the Great Maou has forbidden.” He replied.
“What?” was all that she could say, as she settled herself into a crouch onto her legs, all of her eyes blinking uncomprehendingly at him.
“But if it can heal you, then why would she forbid it?!” she demanded after a second, spreading her hands apart, palms up questioningly.
“For starters, because it is painful.” Arawn replied. “Extremely so.” He continued. Tia began to ask more, but that was when raised a hand to forestall any more questions. Tia silenced herself reluctantly.
“The Yama Naraka Invocation,” he began, as Tia shuddered involuntarily once more, “is what was originally used to heal people in the Demon Realms of old, long before the Great Maou rose to power.” Arawn stated as he placed his palms onto the table in front of him and pushed himself upright. Licking his lips, he continued.
“It is, as I stated before, an extremely painful ordeal. Which is at odds with the Great Maou’s preaching of love and acceptance for all humanity. Since I have sworn an Oath to the Great Maou, the only way I can invoke it now, is with her permission. Or, with the permission of someone duly authorized to do so on her behalf. Someone like General Scathach.” He wearily informed her.
“I would surmise that the major part of the problem for her, is that is also a Meta-Magic. One of the Chaotic variety. As such, it is not only dangerous in its use; but anyone using it too often holds the danger of either awakening one of the dread Lords of Chaos, or garnering the attention of those who forced the Chaos Lords into their somnolent exile.”
“Neither of which,” Calliope explained then, getting both Arawn’s and Tia’s attention at her sudden return, “Is something that the Great Maou would be interested in gaining.”
“Calliope.” Arawn stated, looking at her hands that was clutching something unseen. “I see that you are carrying something now.”
“I am.” Calliope replied, “It is something that I’ve recently had to be formed, just for you.” She stated mysteriously, with a smile forming on her face.
“What is it?” he asked, lifting an eyebrow curiously. When Calliope opened her hand, both he and Tia could see the Great Maou’s emblem formed in metallic black silver; the all seeing eye-oval adorned with a pair of bat/succubus wings.
“It,” Calliope indicated with a nod of her head, “is a monitoring talisman. I want you to keep on you at all times Arawn. The reason being, is that it will give me the opportunity to see if in fact, you are as much a danger to Mamono as you seem to feel that you are.” she stated as she presented it to him, close to his face. Hesitantly, he took it and scrutinized it carefully.
“How does it work? With what magics?” He asked.
“Never you mind that!” Calliope warned, frowning. “Just go ahead and pin it to your clothing! Do Not!” she warned him, “attempt to scan it magically or attempt to interfere with its monitoring! Do I make myself clear?!” she demanded then, fixing his gaze with her own. Arawn gulped at the seriousness in her tone then, and nodded his acknowledgment of her authority.
“Good!” she snapped, her eyes blazing. “Now, Arawn if you would be so kind, I will need to ask you a number of questions as per the General’s orders.”
“What Orders?” Both Arawn and Tia demanded in unison then. Both of them looked at the other.
“The General has received word from the Great Maou that you may be allowed the opportunity to heal yourself using the Yam,…the Invocation of what we spoke about” She stated. Arawn began to smile with relief, his hope for such evident on his face.
“However!” Calliope continued. “Before she will allow that, there is her requirement that you submit to being subject to the healing power of a Unicorn’s horn.”
“A Unicorn?” Arawn groaned loudly as his face fell at that news. “Unicorns.” He sighed, ‘Why does it always have to be Unicorns?” he complained as he sat back down at the table, and then covered his face with his hands. His actions caused all three Mamono to look at him with a varying degree of annoyance and perplexity. Finally, Tia spoke first.
“Arawn?” Tia cried in confusion. “What’s wrong with dealing with Unicorns?” she demanded, incredulous at his reaction. After several seconds Arawn lifted his head and uncovered his face. He then rolled his eyes to look at each of them in turn; Elspeth with her flaming red hair at odds with her purplish nubile body, Calliope in her eye-pleasing negligee, and Tia with strong and fur covered spider-girl body. He sighed heavily.
“It is because of my incorruptible nature.” He started, then stopped when he noticed the incomprehension on the faces of the three people surrounding him. He sighed patiently and began to explain. It took a short while, all due to his raspy throat and frequent sipping of water.
“When I was cursed with Immortality oh so long ago,” he continued, “one of the things that was done to me was to make me nigh on incorruptible. Which is to say, I was born a creature of Law and I have remained a creature of Law, ever since. Believe me when I tell you that many others have attempted to corrupt me either to Chaos, or something else, countless times since!”
“Wait!” Calliope stated holding up a hand to forestall him. Arawn closed his mouth and nodded. “Is this ‘incorruptibility’ have anything to do with your seeming inability to be turned into an Incubus?” she demanded with an intrigued looking frown on her face.
“Correct.” Arawn replied as he nodded once. What he had to say next, got Calliope’s and everyone else’s full attention. “Which is why I am finding the whole ‘Hunt’ to be an exercise in futility. Even if one of the Mamono does manage to ‘subdue me’, as it were. They will ultimately fail in their endeavor to corrupt me to become their Incubus.”
“But that’s impossible!” Elspeth cried out in dismay. “Even the Gods are not above being corrupted!” she stated, shaking her head in negation. For the first time that day, Arawn smiled. But his was one of a patient indulgence as he looked at the Shoggoth-girl with a fond look.
“Ultimately,” he replied, shaking his head. “The Law will not be denied, and what I have been cursed with, has so far managed to pretty much withstand anything that has been thrown to upset it. I remain unchanged in this form you see before you, for countless millions of years.” He finished, raising his hands.
“Yet you can be damaged!” Tia spat out as she waved a furry hand at his injuries. “You can’t tell me that isn’t a change!”
“Indeed it is, but eventually my body will heal itself of every imperfection done to it. As it has done many, many, times before.” He finished, closing his eyes with a weary sigh.
“That’s all well and good!” Calliope shot out as she stepped forward and leaned into his face. “What has all that have to do concerning your problem with Unicorns?” she demanded hotly. Looking up, Arawn opened his eyes and noticed that he had a grand view of Calliope’s cleavage. Momentarily he allowed his eyes to linger on it for just a moment too long.
Calliope noticed his gaze and dropped her look. She realized what it was that he was looking at and smiled. She then stood up straight and folded her arms across her chest, as she found herself halfway between being amusement and annoyance. She started tapping her foot as she awaited his answer. Arawn noticed it and began to speak.
“I would think that it would be obvious.” He replied, looking at Calliope in her eyes. She stared back at him silently for a moment. “Very well then, let me answer with a question. What kind of male are Unicorns most interested in?” he asked.
“Pure, virginal males who do not have the slightest bit of,…” Calliope began.
‘Corruption?” Arawn asked suddenly, interrupting her. Calliope’s face froze in indignation, then her eyes widened when she realized what it was that he was getting at. Arawn smiled again, this time only slightly.
“Now you begin to comprehend.” He stated wearily.
“But wait a minute!” Tia cried. “I know that you’re most certainly NOT a virgin! I am well aware of what you and Jinks were up to after all!”
“Indeed. But riddle me this Corporal, take the time and ‘sniff’ me out right now. In fact, why don’t all three of you subject me to the,…whatever it is you Mamono do to detect if a male is unattached?” He asked, with a satisfied look on his face.
When he finished, he observed that all three Mamono before him did as he had had asked. After a second, he noticed that all three of them looked at him with shock evident on their faces.
“Yes. Am I Virginal?” he asked rhetorically, as he raised his hands palm up in a minor surrender mode. All three nodded in unison.
“Let me guess, as far as all three of you can tell,I am in a completely Virginal state. Now imagine how much more interested a Unicorn,…no strike that! ANY Unicorn would react to my presence?” All three of them around him didn’t answer. They didn’t need to as they all shared a bemused look.
“Precisely.” He replied as he saw their shared look, somewhat mollified. “Pesky creatures they are, one and all.” He complained.
“Be that as it may Arawn!” Calliope stated commandingly. “I’m not sure if this revelation will cause Scathach to change her mind. If anything else, she’ll be curious to see if what you say is true.”
“Such is nothing less than what I expected.” He replied wearily, resigned to his fate.
“Right then!” Calliope responded as she stood upright and turned around. “Corporal Tia!” she called out as she strode to the door of Arawn’s apartment, ‘Walk with me, you and I have much to discuss.” Confused, Tia did as she was bid, and moved to follow after Calliope. But just as she was leaving the room, she turned and called out to Elspeth.
“Keep an eye on Arawn while I’m gone, would you please Elspeth? If he gives you any grief, come and find me and I’ll set him straight. Understood?” she asked, smiling at the Shoggoth. Elspeth smiled back with a happy nod. In response, Arawn merely grumbled under his breath. Both Mamono ignored him.
As she was hurrying to catch up to Calliope, she heard the sound of something hitting the floor in Arawn’s apartment. But, before she could comment about it, she heard Arawn griping.
“Blasted Cat!” he half-shouted in a hoarse tone, “stop knocking things off of my shelves!”.
‘Wait a second, Arawn doesn’t have a cat!’ she realized, as she shot a glance back his way. ‘In fact the barracks rules are quite clear! No live animals are permitted as pets! So what is he referring to?’ she wondered.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
After an exhaustive question and answer period with General Scathach, Corporal Tia was feeling mentally fatigued as she left the General’s offices, She felt more than a little peeved at the General’s intransigence concerning Arawn.
Even though the General had been kind enough to suspend Arawn’s ‘Hunt’, until such time as he was healed, Tia felt that the Fort’s C.O. was being more than a little overbearing in her judgment concerning Arawn’s requested self-healing spell. The General had finally informed her in that in no uncertain terms that, ‘I will leave no stone unturned in an effort to find an alternative to THAT spell!’ she had replied, and then ordered Tia to ‘stop wasting her time with such nonsense!’
Tia’s anger at being so summarily dismissed and ignored, only increased as a result. Upon exiting the General’s office, Tia was extremely annoyed to discover there was someone waiting for her outside.
“Elspeth!” Tia cried upon seeing her. “What are you doing here?” she demanded.
“It’s Arawn!” Elspeth began, as she approached Tia. “He’s gone missing!”
“Missing? How!?” Tia demanded.
Elspeth began to explain. Apparently, he had demanded the ‘right’ to attend to his use of the toilet in peace. Elspeth granted it to him with reluctance. But, long after the time he was supposed to be done she’d gone to find out if he was all right, and that was when she discovered that he’d seemingly disappeared.
“I can’t find him anywhere in or around his barracks! I don’t know where else to go searching for him!” she cried, obviously shaken by her inability to keep track of one single unattached human male. Tia did her best to console her.
“Elspeth, I’d recommend that you go ahead and return to his apartment to see if he’s returned there. I’ll check in as I go and look for him myself.” She assured her.
‘Godsdamnit Arawn!’ she silently cried to herself aggrievedly. ‘What in the nine hells are you up to this time?!’ she wondered, feeling like she did in the days of her taking care of her younger siblings.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Corporal Tia, using her skills and ability as a Spider-Girl Mamono, wisely chose to climb herself to the top of his barrack building to begin her search. Luckily, she managed to espy him within only a couple of minutes of looking.
What he seemed to be doing, appeared to be odd. Over there, a couple of streets over, he was just leaning up against a wall of another building, staring down at something in the street. What, she had no idea.
Lowering herself down with a silk line, she was able to catch up to him in short order. Yet, even on the ground, she still had no idea what it was that he was staring at, as she cautiously approached him. Just as she was about to say something, he spoke first.
“My apologies Mentor.” He said softly, still not looking at her. “I would imagine that my Nurse has probably shaken herself into a froth by now.”
“She may very well might.” Tia replied, barely holding onto her anger. “Why did you leave her like that, and what are you doing?” she demanded, shaking slightly. Arawn finally turned and looked at her.
“Because of the cat.” He replied, and said nothing more as if this explained everything. Tia closed her eyes and found herself counting to eighteen before replying, so as to avoid biting his head off.
“What cat?” she asked as evenly as she could manage in that moment. He looked at her with furrowed brows.
“That cat.” He stated as he lifted up his good hand, and pointed at,…nothing. Tia saw that he was pointing at a spot a good five meters in front of him. She could see that there were in fact a set of alley cats a half block away engaged in a rough and tumble tussle. But she could also easily see that they weren’t what he was pointing at. Tia closed her eyes in frustration once more.
“Arawn, there is no cat there.” She hissed, as she opened her eyes and glared at him.
“Actually there is,..” he replied, somewhat miffed by her reaction.
“NO, there is not a cat!” Tia shot back, interrupting him.
“Tia, yes there is,...” he replied once more, feeling put upon by her reaction. When he did, Tia felt something snap within her as she was just so damned tired of having to put up with him, and his damnable intransigence!
“STOP IT ARAWN!” she shouted then, which caused Arawn’s eyes to flare indignantly. “There is NO cat in front of you! Leave it off and come back with me NOW!” she screamed at him as she roughly put a hand on his shoulder. He winced when she did.
In that moment, Tia knew that she’d caused him some additional pain, what with his shoulder hurting even more by her grabbing.  But she didn’t care anymore, she just wanted him to stop being such a bother right then and there!
‘Why will she not listen? I am tired of being invalidated by everyone!’ he mentally shouted. When he did, every one of his ‘not-brothers’ silently agreed with him.  Arawn in turn, felt his own anger flare. He was tired, damnably tired of being prevented at seemingly everything he wanted to do. Even so, he still attempted to convey his frustration.
“Tia Please,” he began, trying to reason with her. “I need to follow this cat.”
“NO!” She shouted, her teeth flashing, uncaring about making a scene, “I’m sick and tired of your games Arawn! There is no fucking cat!” she yelled into his face, shaking her arms at him.
Arawn’s rage flared so hotly then, that he did something that he normally would have never have done- he shot a hand out to her forehead, and before she could even react he invoked a spell.
“XXXX XXXXX” he shouted then in that instance. The effects of that spell were immediate. Tia cried out in dismay when his spell began to work.
“AAAAH!” she screamed as she jumped backwards away from him and knocked his arm away from her forcefully. The effect of which caused him to spin away and be knocked to the ground with a large whoosh of air expelled from his lungs.
What she could see then through her eyes, was alarming. Everywhere Tia looked, she could still see the streets and buildings before her. But now, it seemed that everything she looked at, was on fire!
“What have you done to me?!” she demanded angrily as she shook her head in a vain attempt to clear her sight, her voice now in an ear piercing shrill tone.
“I have given you Mage Sight.” He replied, his voice coming from the vicinity of the ground. Tia’s anger was momentarily caught, when she realized that he was now breathing hoarsely in pain.
When she looked over at him, she was shocked and appalled to see that she could still see him. But now, she could also see him in a way that was starting to give her a headache. Tia could see not only Arawn, but also riotous blend of other colors. They seemed to be a part of him flowing through and around him, and yet not as well.
“What is Mage Sight?” she demanded harshly, her eyes now reduced to watering and overflowing with her tears by the intensity of all of the colors on display. But, she found that the longer it went on the easier it was for her to endure it all.
“Can you make it stop?” she asked then, rubbing at her eyes with one hand and another. Nothing she could do would make it stop. At best it would only lessen the amount of sensation it was giving her. She then glared/winced at him.
“No.” he began, “I cannot. You will simply have to endure it, until such time as it dissipates on its own.” He replied as he looked up at something in front of him.
“Why did you do that to me?” she growled at him. In reply, he pointed at that something that was in front of him. Tia found herself turning her head to look at whatever it was. When she finished, she found herself astonished at what she beheld in front of him.
It was a cat, she saw. But yet, somehow it wasn’t a cat either. Looking at it first with one eye, and then with another and then another, Tia became aware that some of her eyes kept her regular eyesight. Through those eyes, she could see there was no cat in front of her. But with her Mage-Sight enhanced eyes, she could see that there was.
“What the,…?” she asked, utterly confused by the mixed signals her eyes were giving her then.
“That!” Arawn stated with a grim smile, as he began to push himself painfully to a sitting position. “Is the Ghost-cat that I have been following.” He panted a few times to catch his breath. “It is the one that has been annoying me something fierce for the last couple of weeks during my healing.” He continued. Tia looked over at him curiously as he smiled a mirthless smile. “Just as I fall asleep, it starts knocking things off of my shelves.”
“Oh!” Tia replied, “that would be rather annoying.” She admitted as she started leaning back, to peer down at the unusual cat. She began to look at it more closely. After a few moments, she decided that this cat appeared to be related to the usual stray cats that were running around the city and the fort.
But, unlike those energetic scoundrels, this one appeared to be silently waiting for,…something. All the while curled up in the cat-meatloaf position. Looking closer, Tia noticed that unlike the slim city cats, this one appeared to be almost gaunt in comparison. She could easily see its vertebra bumps sticking up on the fur of its back.
Cat positions- meatloaf.
‘It’s hardly worthy of a mouthful.’ She automatically deemed, then caught herself, ‘not that I’d eat one anymore.’ She quickly corrected herself. Just as she thought that, the ghost cat looked up and over at her, giving her a sharp glare with its ears drawn slightly back.
‘Did it hear my thoughts?’ she asked herself.
The cat then stood itself up, and then turned to lick its left shoulder at her twice. It then got up onto all four paws and ran off at a fast pace down the street.
“Damnatus!” Arawn yelled, when he saw it running away. He glared accusingly at Tia. “What did you do?” he demanded as he pushed himself slowly upright.
“I didn’t do anything.” She denied.
“Ghosts can pick up on thoughts!” he growled at her. “Did you think about eating it?” he asked her acidly.
“Of course not!” she shot back, feigning indignation. After a few seconds, she wilted and replied. “Ok, maybe just a little.” She admitted finally. Arawn huffed.
“Fine!” he replied as he finally managed to todderingly remain upright. He took a hesitant step, stumbled and then fell to one knee. “Faex!” he shouted in anguished frustration. Tia approached him silently and stuck out a hand to offer him a lift up. After glaring at it and her for a second, he took the proffered hand, and with her help he shakily got to his feet.
“I don’t suppose you’re willing to come back to your apartments now?” Tia asked him hopefully. Arawn shook his head.
“Positively not!” he replied letting go of her hand. “I fully intend to continue tracking that little beast. It has been leading me around for the longest while.”
“Leading you? Are you sure that it’s been doing that?” she asked.
“Absolutely!” he assured her. “Its path has been a meandering one, but I am sure that it has a particular destination in mind.”
“What makes you so sure?”
“It keeps looking back at me, checking to see if I have been following it.”
“Well since it’s run off, you can’t follow it anymore.” She pointed out.
“Actually, I can.” He smiled and waved ahead. Tia looked to where he was waving at. There, at the far end of the street, just near the edge of a building she saw the head of the Ghost cat peeking around the corner. It looked back at them for a second, and then ducked back out of sight. She sighed in mild exasperation as she thought about it all.
“Arawn, if I help you track down this cat of yours. Would you at least be willing to go back to bed and allow both of us some rest afterwards? Elspeth is probably getting agitated right now.” She asked.  He grimaced as he thought about it.
“Yes.” He said finally with a nod. “If I can figure out what kind of help this ghost wants of me; I get the impression that it will stop making a nuisance of itself.” He replied.
“All right, I’ll help you if you’re willing. Particularly since I can see it now.” She shot back with a flash of her teeth.
“Ah, another pair of eyes, eh?” he asked. Tia just rolled her head over to give him a droll look with every one of hers eyes that lay on the side of her head. “Or equivalent.” He hastily added. Tia grinned with a humor she barely felt.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
After another few minutes of Tia helping Arawn track the ghost cat, she asked him a question.
“Arawn?” she asked, “What is it that I’m seeing? What are these colors, these shapes, what is it with everything?”
“It would take me a long time to explain to you all of the details; far longer than the time it would for the Mage-sight to last.”
“Try.” She ordered him primly. He sighed.
“All right.” He decided. He then lifted up his good arm before him and presented it to her. “What do you see?” he asked.
“Your arm.” She said dryly. He raised an eyebrow and frowned.
“What else?” he demanded. “Describe it.”  She sighed.
“All right,” she mused as she concentrated on his arm. “I can see what appears to be light coming from within your arm. It looks a lot like the embers of a fire, or a glow crystal that’s set too low.” She decided. Arawn concentrated on his arm and then Tia stopped walking when she noticed something odd. As she watched his arm, the light within it- shifted and formed a different pattern.
“What the?!” she yelped, blinking. “What did you do? What was that?”
“That glow,” he instructed, “is an indication of my own internal Spirit Energy that I utilize in my mana use to form a ‘Blast-Punch’. I did so temporarily for the effect that you just saw.”
“So everything I’m seeing all around me; all of this glowing? It’s all some form of magic?” she asked, as she stopped walking and looked around herself. Arawn smiled indulgently.
“Yes. No. Maybe.” He replied. Tia shot her head around at him and frowned, as she put her hands on her hips.
“Make up your mind!” she chuffed.
“Some of it is made up of magic, yes!” he replied, still smiling. “Let me finish!” he stated when he saw her agitation. She settled herself down, somewhat. Still, she had expected a better explanation than that!
“Yes. Some of what you see is in fact, magic. No, some of what you see is not magic, but something else entirely. Maybe, in that some of what you are looking at could be magic, it could be something in the process of shifting into magic, or out of” he replied.  “As I said before, it would take me a long time to explain what each and everything,…” he stated and then came to a stumbling halt as he espied something ahead of them both.
Looking to where and what he was staring at, Tia noticed an odd seeming person coming along the street towards them. This person looked similar to the Ghost-cat, in that it wasn’t there physically on the street. Yet, that person was doing something out of the ordinary.
 What, she wasn’t sure exactly at the moment. Then she realized what, this odd person wasn’t so much walking down the street as he was floating!
“Tia!” Arawn shouted in a loud whisper, in that moment when he noticed her looking at the strange person. “Look at me! No, do not look at that person I see you looking at right now!” Tia glanced at Arawn with a frown, and then turned her head to look back at the approaching person.
“TIA!” Arawn shouted forcefully. “Trust me on this! You do not want to look at that person, it has a potential danger!” he hissed.
“Danger?” she asked, suddenly chilled by the prospect. “Why? What?” she asked.
“Here, look at my eyes and do your best to pay no attention to him!” he instructed her. Forcing herself to obey him, she did as he told her. After a few seconds of Arawn and her concentrating on each other’s eyes, Tia could feel that strange person stop and look curiously at them both. After a few more seconds, she could ‘sense’ that the person’s attention wavered, and then it ambled off. A minute later, Arawn relaxed.
“Safe.” He whispered, letting out a sigh of relief.
“All right, what was all that about?” Tia demanded.
“Have you in one of your dreams, ever visited a strange and exotic place?” he asked. Tia frowned while she thought about it for several moments, and then nodded, wondering what he was getting at.
“I remember dreaming about visiting the ocean once when I was just a spiderling.” She mentioned. “But, when I finally had the opportunity to see the real ocean, I found that I was delighted and yet also disappointed.”
“Let me guess, that is because it seemed both less and more, than what you remembered from your dreaming of it?” he asked, Tia nodded.
“What you dreamt then, was you experiencing a Dream-Walking.” Arawn smiled. Tia’s eyes went round when she realized what it was he’d been getting at.
“You mean to tell me that that figure you had me ignore, was someone having a dream?!” she exclaimed, as she looked back once at the now absent figure.
“Absolutely! What you saw just now was and is often referred to as: A Dream-Walker.”
“Do you mean to tell me that that was someone dreaming about walking the streets of Fort Eequor?” She asked incredulously. Arawn nodded cheerfully.
“But what’s so exciting about this place? There’s nothing exotic to see here!” she scoffed.
“Well, some people have such drab lives, that anything out of the ordinary will seem unusual to them.”
“All right, so what’s the problem with my watching someone else having a dream?” she asked.
“Dream-walkers can be easily distracted during their sojourn. If you had paid any more attention to that person than what you did, it would have garnered his attention.”
“So?”
“A person can get lost during a Dream-Walking, especially if those who happen to perceive it, are not careful. You would have ended up having it staying and interacting with you, trying to get your attention.”
“For how long?” she asked, scared suddenly at the notion.
“Probably for the rest of your life.” He added, smiling sadly. “Many extant poltergeists are the result of a Dream-Walker who has gotten distracted.”
“But what about the one who dreams, won’t they age and die?”
“Not necessarily, time is relative for a Dream-Walker. So much so, that one of them can spend entire lifetimes during their dream. Then when they’re done, they wake up in their beds the morning after they went to sleep.”
“That’s a lot to take in!” Tia replied, blowing out a breath. She then looked over her shoulder at some movement. “Arawn?” she asked, pointing. Arawn looked to where she was pointing. “Isn’t that the Ghost cat you’ve been tracking?”
“Yes it is.” He replied, blinking.
“What is he doing?”
“It appears that he is waiting for us at the corner of my barrack building.” He replied as he began walking slowly towards the waiting cat.  Tia followed, careful to keep her thoughts non-threatening. As they approached, the cat simply waited unmoving for them to come near. All the while, it remained where it was staring at the masonry of the building’s foundation.
When they were almost within touching distance, the cat stood up and looked plaintively at Arawn once, and turned back to face the Buildings’ cornerstone and then it reached out a paw and lightly scratched the blocks’ surface. Both Arawn and Tia noticed that its paw passed into the block slightly.
The cat then turned to look at Arawn once more, and lifted its tail up above its head. It then walked into the block, passing completely out of view. Arawn and Tia stared at the wall for several seconds, but the cat didn’t return.
“What?” Tia asked as she looked at Arawn and noticed that he had a thoughtful look on his face. He turned to her and sighed.
“I think I know what this is all about now.” He stated sadly, not looking at her. As Tia watched, confused as he then painfully sat himself down in front of the cornerstone block.
“What are you doing?” she asked, blinking her eyes.
“I think I am about to provide a commutation of a sentencing.” He replied cryptically, as he settled himself in front of the block, then he placed his hand upon its surface.
“Arawn?” she tried again.
“Ssshhh!” he replied, shushing her. “I’m concentrating! This will be more difficult in my current condition.” He continued, as he started to pant. Tia could soon see why he was panting. She could see lines and glowing forces well up within him.
As she watched, they then started expanding out in the vicinity of his heart and brain, and from there they traveled down his arms and wrapped themselves into and around the stone block akin to a Spider’s silk. Within a couple of seconds, those energies had enveloped the block almost entirely.
When the stone was covered with the lines, Arawn scootched himself backward half a meter with his hand still touching the stone. He then tensed himself and spoke a word.
“XXXX!” he intoned, almost instantly, the building’s cornerstone gave off a crackling sound, and started to shake slightly as it began to loosen. Tia’s eyes went wide when she realized that he was about.
“Arawn!” she shouted fearfully, “You’ll bring the building down!” she stated as she reached out to him, and then stopped. Suddenly she realized that if she interfered, she ran the risk of causing real damage. Arawn continued in his stone-moving, ignoring her entirely.
Finally, after several tension filled minutes on Tia’s part, and no small amount of sweating on Arawn’s, the stone finally ceased its fighting of him and slowly began to shift its way out from the building’s confines. When the block was about half way out of its setting, was when Arawn ceased his efforts. He then just about collapsed and lay down next to the hole in the wall that he’d created.
“What have you done?” Tia demanded, her voice rasping with her anger. Arawn looked back up at her and smiled.
“Let us find out.” He replied as he reached out his good hand and inserted it into the newly made aperture, and began to feel around. At first, he kept his lips pursed with a thoughtful look on his face. But, after a couple of seconds, his eyes lit up. He then began retracting his arm out. When he did, Tia could hear the sound of masonry being scraped by another solid object.
“Just as I thought!” he stated as he pulled something out the hole. “A cavity in the foundation!”
“Why? What?” Tia asked, her anger forgotten as she looked over Arawn’s shoulder. What she saw then as he removed his arm completely, made no sense. For there, within his grasp was an ancient looking glass jar full of somethings… Arawn lifted up to his face and peered into it.
“Hmph!” he grunted, as he spared her a glance. “It appears to be a jar of pickles!” he chuckled once.
“Why someone left that there, is beyond me.” He replied as he handed that jar to Tia. As she took it and gave it the once over, she noticed that Arawn was reaching back inside again.
This time, she noticed that he seemed to be more forceful in feeling his way inside that hole, she could hear the sound of his hand slapping the inside surface. Then finally, his hand came down one more time, but it didn’t make any noise.
“Aaahh!” he stated, frowning sadly. “Yes.” He stated as he began to remove another item.
“What?!” Tia demanded. Arawn looked up at her with a half-smile. He then carefully removed what it was that he’d found. Once it was in the light of the afternoon sun, Tia gasped, and was left gaping!
It was a cat! But it wasn’t a living one, no. This one was decidedly dead, as it was nothing more than skin, bones, and fur. She saw that it was all curled up, as if it had fallen asleep and stayed in that position, forever. Arawn lifted it up in his hands, she noticed that he was starting to cry, as one tear after another began to form in his eyes.
“Poor thing.” He sniffled.
“Why? What happened to it?” she demanded, frowning. Then she noticed that the Ghost-cat had returned. It was sitting and moving its head to stare at them both, looking between Arawn, Tia, and the mummified cat. Tia’s eyes went wide when she realized that the markings on the dead cat’s fur, matched the one on the ghost cat!
“An ancient and barbaric practice!” Arawn began to explain, looking at Tia and then to the Ghost-cat.
“My apologies for this little one.” He sighed, the ghost-cat looked back at him mournfully and blinked sadly once.
“I still don’t understand!” Tia cried, feeling shaken at the spectacle before her.
“It is called: Internment.” He began, “in it sacrificial animals were often interred within the foundation of a building or other edifice. Many times when they were alive. There they would be left to die, either of starvation, thirst, or asphyxiation.” He stated as he closed his eyes and brought the mummified cat to his chest and hugged it.
“That’s Evil!” Tia cried, outraged. “But why do such a thing?”
“It was a time-honored way of creating a sort of ‘Guardian-Spirit’ for said building or edifice.
“Involuntary!” Tia hissed angrily. Arawn nodded.
“This explains the Ghost cat for my barracks. He is the involuntary Guardian for it.” He stated as he looked down at the still present cat. “I think I understand now what he wants.”
“What? What can you provide for him now, he’s dead!” Tia cried again, still upset yet frustrated enough to wring her hands in anguish. “There’s nothing you or I can do for him!”
“Actually there is.” Arawn replied, as he kissed the dead cat’s head. He then carefully set the dead cat down on the ground in front of him.
“What can you do?”
“I can free him. Free him from his involuntary servitude.” Arawn whispered as he made a gesture. To Tia’s eyes she noticed a flash of energy in his hand and then something appeared. Looking closely, she could see that it was a packet of sea salt. Arawn then tore it open and spread its contents all over the body of the cat.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“Spiritual Manumission.” He replied cryptically. That ghost cat watched his every action intensively. Arawn, with Tia’s help, then got to his feet and backed away.
“Be Free little one!” he breathed. “XXXFuegoXXX” he stated once, when he was far enough away. As Tia watched, the Ghost-cat’s body sparked once, and then it began to burn in one spot, and then it spread all over to cover the entirety of the dead animal. To Tia’s eyes she noticed that it gave off all of the colors of the rainbow as the fire consumed it. Out of nowhere a slight breeze began strong enough to ruffle her fur.
As it did, she noticed that after a second’s hesitation, the ghost cat caught fire as well. But it didn’t react like a normal cat would’ve under such circumstance.
It merely remained placid as it was being erased while the flame advanced across it. From the first spark to the last ember, the entire process took less than a minute. She thought that she heard it mew once as it disappeared from her view.
Tia found herself saddened by the experience, yet somehow elated as well. Looking up, she saw that she could see the same emotions on Arawn’s face. Their eyes met momentarily.
“Let us go home.” He sighed.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
For the first time in several weeks, Annwyfn Arawn managed to get a halfway decent night’s sleep despite his aches and pains. A good rest, mostly because that Ghost-cat that had been pestering him, was no longer there to knock things off of shelves.
When he awoke the next morning, he was struck by an odd sensation. Casting out his psychic feelers, he discovered X things.
The first, was the gentle sound of a mild sussurus echoing throughout the entirety of his apartment.
‘What is that sound? (1)’ Arawn demanded, his mind befuddled from the early morning hour.
‘I believe that sound is akin to what Tia has called: A cat’s purr. (5)’ Quintus mentioned.
‘Where is its location? (1)’
‘From atop your chest. (5)’
‘What? (1)’. Arawn stuttered as he lifted his head from his pillow and looked down at his chest. Once he had, he found himself nose to nose with a cat. It was there sitting on his chest all curled up into ‘the meatloaf’ position, facing him.
Arawn automatically reached up to displace the cat from its perch. But, as soon as he tried, his hand passed through it.
‘Ghost? (1)’ he stated, surprised, as he rubbed at his eyes to clear the sand from them. When he did, he looked again and noticed the cat’s markings. He was surprised again when he realized that they matched the previous ghost cat’s fur. But! This cat was fuller, weightier, and all around healthier looking.
‘About as ‘healthy’ as any dead cat can be. (5)’ Quintus remarked dryly. Arawn sighed as he started to stare at the ghost cat, who stared back at him unblinkingly.
The two of them held an impromptu staring contest for as long as Arawn could manage, until at the end he blinked first. After blinking away his dry eyes, he looked back at the cat again and got the distinct impression that the cat was amused at Arawn’s foolishness. Arawn growled once.
“If you are going to insist on remaining here,” he began as he addressed the cat atop him, “then I am going to insist on giving you a name.” he stated as he continued to glare for a moment more. Arawn then idly let his eyes drift around the room for inspiration.
Almost instantly, his eyes settled upon the sight of the ancient jar of pickles that he’d pulled out from the corner of the building the previous day. He smiled in realization of it. Returning to look back to the cat in front of him, he began to speak.
“I hereby dub thee: Pickles.” Arawn finished sarcastically. The newly dubbed Ghost-cat, Pickles, blinked lovingly back at him once.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>