Part Five The Gathering

Caaris, still bleeding and still between the real world and his painful past, got to his paws. Struggling over to where the two of them lay, her pushed Shallie away from the evil being and lay his body over her, whispering words that had little meaning to her silent form as he healed her flesh but could not heal her mind.

**Where am I?** Shallie asked her eyes shifting back and forth, **Caaris?** Caaris pressed his head into her chest, tears coming to his eyes as it registered to him that the only thing his love remembered was him.

**I am here.** He whispered, hiding his voice from all that could hear, as he pulled Shallie into his arms, and whispered to her. For the first time in many years tears and sorrow racked his heart and Caaris surrendered himself to his fallen loved one.



Epharen's eyes went wide as Shallie flung herself at Zenat,as the wicked Sharro leaped at her. The two grappled and fought,Shallie deeply wounding Zenat.
* Damn you,Shallie*Epharen shouted. But it was out of frustration besides concern for her friend.
And then....Zenat took Shalle's memory. And Epharen froze as both her leader and her tormenter slumped to the ground. Caaris was at Shallie's side in seconds,and she sensed his tears. So maybe he did have a heart.
*Shallie!* Epharen called. But she did not move. She was standing with Shallie in front of her and Spreeander and Pherlladen behind her. She could go to her,she could go to them,she could leave all together. All of it was so overwhelming,she didn't know what to do, where to go. Tears welled up in her eyes,and she let herself crumble to the ground.
What now? The question swirled in Caaris’ tired mind as he tried to think of what should be done next, but all he could think of was Shallie. His poor Shallie... And what of Zenat? She was not dead, Caaris could feel the life that lingered in her.

Pulling slowly away from his lover, Caaris watched in a a stll saddness as she slumped to the ground in an exuasted sleep; he wanted to rest as well but times called for other action.

Without looking over at Epharen, Caaris bent down and lifted the unconscious Zenat onto his shoulders, he had not the strength to kill her at the moment, and he dare not leave her for the Nonoshan to find, then with what little strength he could gather got Shallie onto his back as well.

**Soon, the Nonoshan will awaken... you may follow me if it suits you, to a place we can all rest.** Without waiting for her reply, Caaris drifted off into the lightening skies.

Floating over the city at a slow pace, Caaris stopped at an old abondoned building and went inside where many of his belongings were arranged and kept. This was his secret place, Shallie had never been there till now, though Caaris was beginning to wish he had brought her before then.

Slumping to the ground Caaris allowed the two bodies to settle in the dust, before he dragged Shallie over to his bed where he carefully set her and layed down on the floor beside her, glad for the rest, Caaris kept one eye open, always on the look out...


Epharen raised her head wearily,the tears now gone from her face,lingering in her eyes. She stood and silently made to follow Caaris,carrying Spree and Laden on her back with much effort. She followed him to a place she had never before seen,but was glad for it. It offered a safe place to rest for now,though she wished she could tend to Spreeander and Pherlladen first. But her body and mind would not let her before she slept a while.
Epharen sighed in resignation,as she lay both Spreeander and Pherlladen in another bed,Caaris already settled with Shallie in his own. The two best friends lay still together in sleep,causing Epharen to smile. Spree moved instinctively closer to Pherlladen,enfolding him into a tender embrace that the two often secretly shared in sleep when they were alone and on duty or in their shared room at Headquarters.Pherlladen buried his face into Spree's neck,and Epharen sensed him begin to share Spree's body warmth and what little energy Spreeander had himself,he freely offered to his best friend. Epharen's heart was bursting when she watched them,and felt such ove between them.
She smiled and sighed again before falling to sleep nearby.
Zenat shifted her weight, groaning as sharp spurts of pain ran up and down her spine. Where was she? Lowering her ears, the large Sharro stared about herself, searching for anything that might give any clue to where she was; but Zenat had no memory to call from... All she could remember was her name, but nothing else. Zenat strived to reach out for her past, memories that seemed just beyond her reach, as though she was surrounded by a mist, her memories just beyond her grasp.

Caaris sat up quickly, that movement of Zenat startling him out of his restful awakeness. He had stupidly forgotten that evil fiend! Caaris was on his paws in a second and right in Zenat’s vacated face.

**Don’t move, you spawn of the devil!** Caaris stood his ground, and his voice was coated with fury, though his sides twitched with fearful recall of what she had done to him before. Zenat froze, fear coming into her eyes. Who was this?

**I won’t.** Her voice was weak, softer then a whisper and lightly colored with the shivering blues of fear. Caaris knew that something was wrong with her now. Her mind was weakened, and she seemed to have taken her guard down. Caaris reached out to her mind, past the ruins of the boundaries she had once set in place for herself. Her mind was a clutter, Caaris could find nothing, nor gathering any information about anything that she had done only seconds ago. Had Zenat’s attempt to steal Shallie’s memory affect her as well? She seemed to be at a loss for words and strength any ways.

**What is your name? Do you remember anything about getting here or what happened before you came? Do you recognize anybody here? WELL!** Caaris thrust his muzzle into her face, growling as he waited impatiently for her answer.

Zenat was silent, and she hide her head beneath her paws with a squeal when Caaris spoke to her so angrily.

**I don’t... I don’t know!** Zenat hissed, her words brightening as she sensed Caaris’ puzzlement and anger at her, for reasons she could not recall. **All I know is my name!**


Epharen was woken up by an angry voice, which she soon discerned to belong to Caaris. He was pissed...what a surprise. She had not been sleeping for long....only a few hours,she figured. She instinctively looked over to where Spreeander and Pherlladen lay.They still slept soundly. Epharen had to tend to Pherlladen now.
Caaris was talking to Zenat,she saw as she stood up. Epharen felt her rage start to rise up in her again. She was not finished with Zenat. On the contrary,she had barely begun.
Epharen slowly approached her and Caaris,her eyes fixed on Zenat. She had harmed Shallie, which only raised Epharen's fury and hatred even more. She would fight her,and shed her blood. She would not stop until she had.
* Move aside,Caaris *, she ordered, her shoulderblades raised as her back arched up in a battle seeking way.
* That bitch is mine. *
**I don’t think so, Epharen.** Caaris said with a shake of his head. **No more fights until we can figure this out; besides Zenat seems as bad of as Shallie right now...** Caaris, suddenly remembering his hurting loved one, turned from Zenat and wandered over to her.

Caaris gently sniffed her, Shallie’s fur folding up along his muzzle. She stirred, stretching and yawning as she sat up to smile at him, her mind open to him as she sent forth spiraling mental smokes of reds and pinks, a sure sign that she loved him. Caaris returned her gesture more powerfully, though he hid his sendings, and his hackles rose in embarrassment of her open affection.

**Caaris.** She said, her tail rising up farther as she spoke. **What is this place?** Shallie turned her head, everything was strange to her but Caaris, some how she knew him all to well.

**This is just a little place I used to go when I was little...** Caaris was silent for a moment, as his words faded into the darkness of his mind, as he began to send his memory to Shallie, though his channels were open...

Blood dripped from his side; he could barely move the pain of his wound was so great, but somehow the young Caaris managed to pull himself into the abandoned building. Burying his muzzle and eyes in the sheets of the old bed he was able to let his tears openly come, no one would see. Blood, and tears mixed themselves as he lay there. Why most life be so hard for him? Why most he be that one Sharro out of the billions on the planet that was chosen to live the life he did? There were so many Sharro that had loving families and nice places to live... but not him.

No, Caaris was nothing but a pet, and he was often treated less then that. For the first time, last night, he had felt free. He couldn’t remember how, but somehow he had gotten his chain loose and wandered from his master’s house. The streets were beautiful at night, but his joy was short lived and when his master found him he wished that he had never seen the outside world.

Now he was here, Caaris lifted his head, his young eyes searching the room, and now he was safe...

Caaris twitched, he had never gotten that one master, and he still feared that day that the two of them might meet again.

**I am sorry.** Shallie was beginning to sound like herself better now at least, Caaris thought. Zenat was silent, for some reason Caaris’ reminition brought close to her her own memories though she could still not grasp what she had lost...


Epharen stood stiffly as Caaris denied her request,but said nothing and had her mind blocked from being read.He moved toward Shallie,leaving and forgetting Zenat. Epharen did not understand how he could be merciful upon that bitch. She had taken the memory of the one he supposedly loved,did he not want revenge?
Epharen took this opporunity while he was distracted to advance on Zenat.
* You snake and spawn of the lowliest beast on this earth *,she hissed angrily.* You have tormented me and taken your pleasure on stealing away what I have loved. Now I shall have my revenge.For you,bitch, * Epharen paused and smirked deviously, * are mine. *
Epharen lowered her head,pressing her ears down and arching her back in a threatening position.She unblocked her mind for all in that place to see what haunted her.
And with every step she took, a flash of that night she'd been tortured,the night she watched Bredelph slaughtered, every stab of pain, every drop of blood, every unheard scream, flashed in her mind outlined by a bright deep red.
* Epharen, go! *
Bredelph's voice pleaded.
* I will not leave you.*
Epharen loved him too much.
* Bid farewell to your friend.*
Zenat had not one glimmer of regret as she had slit his throat.
** Epharen finally screamed after resisting for an entire hour of torture.
She had never known more pain in her entire life. And Zenat's voice taunted her every moment of what a failure she was, if she enjoyed this play,if she wanted more, if she really even gave a damn about Bredelph. **
Epharen kept going,kept walking, even though her mind forced her to relive everything. And through it all,she saw Bredelph's eyes right before he'd been killed.
* I'm alone. * She thought this with full belief in the words,and no regret.
* I am alone, just as I have always been alone. And if I want anything in this life, I must go after it myself,for no one will help me. No one gives a damn. They never have. *
She wasn't bitter about this fact. She simply acnowledged the truth. Yet she was pained in the depths of her heart where no one could see. Pained because Shallie did not care about her or Spree or Laden,only Caaris. Pained because she longed for and loved Pherlladen with such desperation it was nearly beyond her limits to bear. And he could never, would never love her. Pained because she could have been better, done better, she could have saved all those Sharro and Bredelph but she hadn't. She was a failure. Pained because she was deprived the freedom she yearned for with every fiber of her being.
And as she walked,it stabbed her over and over. That night haunted her mind. Words that described her slapped her in the face.
Worthless. Failure. Traitor. Weakling.Useless. Murderer. Bitch.
Epharen could not control herself anymore. She lunged at Zenat and took hold of her neck, blindly striking out with her claws.
And hot tears began to spill from her blazing eyes. Pain,fury,frustration coursed through her. No one understood. No one cared. She was alone.
Zenat sat still, shocked, as she felt Epharen’s teeth lock around her throat, and as the other Sharro’s memories of her, apparently, rushed forth in an angry wave. The long, tall creature struggled, trying hard not to get her claws caught in her attacker’s flesh.

**What are you doing?!** Zenat screamed, finally pulling her body away from Epharen. Shallie turned her ears up, watching. Though she could remember neither of the two Sharro she immediately took the attacking one to be evil.

Leaping to her paws, she rushed at the attacking Sharro, Epharen. Caaris, seeing what was going on went after her, slipping his body between them all.

**STOP!** Sending waves of command at all of them, Caaris bent and helped Zenat to her feet. He stared Epharen in the eye, and closed his channels to all but her. **Now you listen to me, I know what you are thinking, and you are wrong! You don’t understand what it is to be…** Caaris stopped himself, shuddering at his own bloody acts and wrongs. **…evil. This is her chance to change who she is; don’t ruin it!** Caaris bared his teeth and led Zenat to the other side of his secret home.

Shallie followed behind, turning once to stare back at Epharen, hatred running hot through her veins at this stranger who would attack a resting Sharro.

Shallie narrowed her channels to Zenat and sent her comforting colors, and sorrowful words.

**Thank you… I have a feeling that I am not wanted…** Zenat lay her head down on her paws, a mental sigh escaping her mind.

**No.** Said Caaris, his eyes locked on Epharen, knowing by now that she would not listen to him easily. **Some one here just doesn’t understand how to forgive.** Caaris narrowed his channels again, directing his speech to Epharen.

**You attack her again, and I will force you and your “friends” to leave!** Caaris knew he had the advantage here, this was his place, the one place that he could call his own. He knew the dangers of this old place…

* Don't give up on me now, Pherlladen. *
Spreeander murmured this to his best friend,whose head lay between his front paws. Epharen was tending to Pherlladen's wounds,currently the gash across his stomach. She applied herbs that she had gathered recently and it stung. Pherlladen struggled,still unconscious,though felt the pain. Spreeander soothed him with gentle whispers and nuzzles.
* I love you,Laden. Deep down in my heart,you're my brother. Always remember that. You'll always have me. I'm here for you,hang on.*
Pherlladen moaned softly as Epharen tried her best to work quickly. He had regained a bit of strength from Spreeander's warmth and love and energy,but he still did not wake.
Epharen was glad she had lain the two at a good distance from the others. Those pack of vermin,she fumed to herself.No matter. As soon as Pherlladen woke,they would leave. Maybe even before. She wasn't staying in this snake pit a minute longer than she had to. If Shallie wanted to stay with her wicked lover,than let the traitorous bitch stay. She obviously didn't give a damn about Epharen or Spreeander or Pherlladen anyway.
* Laddie...do you remeber that name? When we were small, I called you that.
You were so quiet and shy,following me everywhere. And I always watched out for you, maybe a little too much.It's still hard for me not to be overprotective. But hell, you need it every now and then.*
Spreeander chuckled as he spoke in a very low tone to Pherlladen.His eyes shone faintly with a fierce affection as they looked upon the unconscious Sharro.
* Done *,Epharen announced gladly.
Spreeander looked up at her with equal relief.
* When can we leave? * he asked eagerly.
* Well, it depends. * Epharen replied pensively. * We may wait until he wakes.Or we can carry him and leave now.*
She laid out their options clearly.
* Where would we go? * he asked.
A sly smirk came across Epharen's face.
* To place that is my domain. *
Caaris watched in silence as he over heard the talk that went on between Epharen and Spree. So, this is the thanks he gets for helping these people... Caaris sighed, and they are supposed to be good. Shallie nuzzled him, her eyes puzzling.

**Caaris, tell me... who am I? What has happened here?** Shallie had her channels closed and Caaris did the same so that he coudl reply to her.

**You are Shallie leader of the Guardians, and I am Caaris leader of the Creashaw, we are enemies because of that; but we are one at heart.** Caaris flashed scenes of their life together, hoping to refresh Shallie’s mind and it worked.

Tears began to run down her face, and she lowered her head into the blankets that were scattered across the bed. Her heart broken...

**What were we thinking, Caaris? How can we ever keep this up?** Shallie shook her head.

**Perhaps it is time that we say good bye...** Caaris suggested. Shallie’s eyes met his.

**I think it is...** She replied. **Take care of Zenat, Caaris, let her have her second chance... and... thank you.** Shallie turned from her beloved, her mind telling her that this would be the last time she ever saw him.

**I love you Shallie...** Caaris locked himself away from her, his mind shut to her feelings for the first time since she had met him so long ago.

**Epharen.** Shallie strengthened her voice, knowing that her friend was mad at her, hated her perhaps, but she was Epharen’s leader non the less. **I can help you with Laden and Spree, if we can get them to the gathering place, I have called other Guardians to aid us back to base.**

Though Shallie was suggesting that this was what was to be done, her voice held a certain command to it; she couldn’t bare to be in this place any longer.


Epharen listened to their brief and, in her opinion, melodramtic conversation. How nauseating, she thought. She highly doubted what they said was true besides.
And then, much to her concealed surprise, Shallie aprroached her and virtually commanded her to take Spreeander and Pherlladen to the place where they had gathered. She said she could help...Epharen snorted in amusement. She turned around to face the other female Sharro with a nonchalant face and calm voice.
* Excuse me but I'm afraid I do not understand.First,you leave me, Spreeander, and Pherlladen for dead in that clearing. Then you bring a blood sucking, memory stealing little bitch to where you left us. Oh and it just gets even better...you turn on your followers to join the wicked and treat us all like shit. And now, now you come back and have the guts to give me orders? * Epharen said lightly,almost cuckling it.
* Who the hell do you think you are? You don't even know! You just believe Caaris but you have no clue who you are and certainly no idea who I am. You order those who you do not even know!*
She stated the truth plainly.
* You are not my leader.A leader doesn't leave her followers for dead. Go back to your lover and that bitch and join them in their wickedness.*
Epharen turned her back on Shallie, half pained at the loss of her friend and yet feeling the adrenaline of her boldness. And besides, she would not ake orders from someone who did not know her. She did not owe her allegiance to a traitor.
Out of the darkness stumbled a bedraggled Lantrea. She looked up, catching every Sharro’s eyes in her own frail, yet frightened gaze. She had obviously been involved in some sort of brawl; it was evident in her every feature. Blood stained her beautiful blue fur…she limped upon a nearly shredded leg. But her eyes…her eyes alone were the most distinguishing aspect. They were bloodshot, wide, filled with a horror as that of a Guardian who has seen a dark prophecy and been highly disturbed.

*Shallie…Epharen…* She breathed, her mental voice coming in a kind of outdrawn wheezing. Her mind sent all varieties of colors…red, blue, green, orange…but the most prominent was black. Black. And that could not mean anything for the best.

*There was…I was…attacked by a…a dark Sharro…never seen anything like it…before…* Lantrea’s voice was waning…waning down to that just above a whisper.

She abruptly collapsed to the floor. She could see the others above her, but they were all ablur. Their voices seemed smooth…too smooth…and slurred…the world around her seemed to be melting into a void. She then came to the point where the world was black and it seemed her only way out was death. But before she completely went dead to the world, there were a few more words yet to be spoken…words that could…and would change many things…

*The Shepherds, Shallie. The Shepherds…are here…*
Shallie stood in silence, Epharen’s words falling on her with a dullness of hatred. How could she, of all Sharro, talk about not knowing people?! She gave none of them any chance... There were too many things that Epharen didn’t understand, and Shallie was able to read her thoughts like an open book, its pages filled wtih hate...

**You know not of what you speak...** Shallie whispered, lowering her mental voice to volume that could barely be heard, the words of another falling from her lips. **I am sorry for anyother Sharro that would love you Epharen... for I know that you would have left me for Pherlladen, even before you began to hate me... Do you break the hearts of all who care for you? Do you blame your wrongs on others who tried to aid you? You are as a cub... I am sorry that you feel this way...** Shallie shut herself away, not wanting to hear Epharen’s brutal words, nor the sad mourning that she had begun to feel from Caaris.

Shallie turned to leave, her soul empty as a river in drought, her heart broken and shattered. All of what she had clung to throughout her life had suddenly begun to fall apart, there seemed to be nothing left for her.

Shallie was about to lift from the ground when Lantrea tumbled through the window and fainted on the ground, her warning of the Shepards ringing in her leader’s ears.

Not wanting to see the faces of Epharen or Caaris Shallie stepped over Lantrea shadowing her from the other eyes... Lantrea... how long would it be till she lost her too?

Sending wakng waves to the Sharro Shallie attempted to awaken her friend. Narrowing her waves to Lantrea and making sure that she would not otherwise be interupted Shallie began to send to the waking Sharro.

**Lantrea, strange things are afoot. We must return to the Gathering Place! Leyla, will meet us there, she can aid us with the Shepards and the Telepaths.

Not waiting for any reply Shallie shifted her channel to Zenat and said this. **Zenat, do not leave this place for any reason but to follow Caaris I trust that he will protect you.** Then widening her channels to all those there she added. **Farewell...** Locking herself away once again Shallie leapt from the building her telepathy catching her as she fell. Shallie could only hope that Lantrea would choose to follow her now...

Epharen had her back turned to Shallie as her best friend spoke, the pain inflicted by the words she had said clear in her voice. But Epharen did not look at her or answer. She was pained as well. Did Shallie not see that? No, of course not. Shallie didn't give a damn about her.
But a part of her shouted otherwise. Of course she did. This was Shallie your talking about, of course she cares!
No, you're wrong. She does not,she proved that to you more than once in the last few hours. It is blindness to believe she does. The part that told her this was overpowering the small part in her heart that longed to believe Shallie cared.
But then she heard Shallie's thought.
She thought Epharen would've left her for Pherlladen.
Epharen flinched as if she'd been struck. That....was a blade in her heart.
* You....you know nothing of what you speak *, Epharen said trembling,shutting off her mind's visibility to everyone but Shallie, directing her words at her.
* I would have never left you for anyone or anything, Shallie. Do you hear me? * she screamed.
Shallie did not answer her,nor looked back. Epharen was shaking,but whether more from rage or pain,she did not know.
* And how could I when he doesn't even fucking know I love him?! * she asked this,yelling it,biting back tears.
* You don't shit,Shallie. You have your lover,bastard that he is,but you have him nonetheless. Pherlladen does not know and he does not love me. You have know right to say that to me. No fucking right! *
Epharen screamed,stray tears escaping her. Spreeander watched her from behind, Pherlladen still unconscious with his head between Spree's paws. Spreeander knew something was wrong,something was going on. But he could not hear Epharen, her mind was blocked. And Shallie was leaving.
Epharen stood,shaking and fighting not to collapse all together. She subtly wept with great self control,watching as Shallie kept walking and Lantrea burst through the window. She said something about the Shepards.It did not make sense to Epharen but it was obviously something wicked ....just what she needed.


Part Six
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