The Gathering Part Six
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.
Caaris had never thought himself to be evil before... no, it had seemed to him that the things he did were for his survival and only that. Other Sharro, besides the Creashaw, tended to stay away from him; but it had never crossed his mind that that might be why. Didn’t all Sharro kill? Caaris had been hardened by his life, his constant struggle with the continuous stream og Nonoshan that were put over him as masters. Shallie had been his only friend... she had seen the good in him that no other could have seen. Shallie had seen things in Caaris that was like her...
Caaris stared across at Epharen, the words that she had meant to Shallie ringing in his mind; another strange outcome of their strong love? Shallie and Caaris had often shared feelings, but he never would have guessed that this would happen; Shallie closes herself away and whatever sendings are meant for her are sent to him... Caaris snorted, though he felt sorry for Epharen.
Without words, for he knew now how much she hated him, Caaris sent Epharen calming wave patterns and light blues; without his signature colors and voice pattern Caaris vaguely hoped that she might not know who sent it to her.
Caaris knew pain... yes, it had been a close enemy of him in his younger years, and it seemed to haunt him now that he was older; just his luck.
Caaris’ mind and eyes followed Shallie, his heart retching and cracking as she drofted farther and farther from his reach. He wanted to scream at her...
**WE WERE MEANT TO BE TOGETHER!!!** His voice thundered, and though it met the many ears of those that were there with her, Shallie blacked his sendings and Caaris knew his desprite words had not reached her.
Hopeless, and not daring to follow her, Caaris felt himself let go; he was empty and Shallie was gone...
Epharen screamed in frustration as she felt her sendings bounce off of Shallie's blocked mind and go to Caaris instead. As she cried out, she kicked a rock hard,sendijng it flying off into the shadows,stray tears in her eyes.
* Fine! Don't listen to me. I don't need you. Go to hell! * Epharen shouted after Shallie,even though she knew she was not heard. She had to say it or else she'd explode.
And then, much to her surprise, Caaris sent her calm waves of blue. She was grateful, as annoying as that was to the part that hated him, and told him so in grateful shades of pastel greens and blues.
And then he did yet another thing that took her unexpectedly for someone who she thought, quite recently, was purely wicked and had no heart.He yelled after Shallie that the two of them were meant to be together.
And in that moment, Epharen believed it to be true. But Shallie was oblivious to anyone's words,and so his sincere attempt to make her stay for love was in vain.
Lantrea felt herself gradually awakening, as back into reality she went. She could have sworn she had heard words uttered from another…Shallie, she recalled. But as she stood, the fog from her eyes and faint from her heart clearing, Lantrea found that there was no sign of the Leader of the Guardians.
*I…what happened?* Lantrea mentally pondered, still in a daze-like state; all the thoughts came rushing back like a flooding riverbed on its foaming, raging course. *The Shepherds. And the…something dark is occurring here after all. Shallie has departed to the Gathering once again…broken hearted…alone…* Lantrea felt a chill go up her spine at the thought of Shallie’s sorrows; she did not like to see her Leader this way, for it saddened her as well.
Blinking tears back from her eyes, Lantrea lifted her head and the first thing her eyes fell on was the doorway. *And it is my duty and my heart’s wish to follow her. But YOU!* Lantrea flipped around to face Epharen, her face a mixture of both rage and tears. Nonetheless, Lantrea had no pity and sent Epharen fiery shades. *You have no right to bring your easily sparked antagonism to any Guardian nor Creashaw!* I am leaving, unsure if you will follow me, but truly not hoping you will.*
And with that remark, Lantrea closed her channels to no one else but Shallie and bounded off into the night as fast as her able paws could carry her.
Finally, she was able to come upon Shallie in the place of Gathering. Lantrea’s first comment before she spoke anything was, *What has happened, my friend?*
Epharen still stood stiffly,her chest heaving with the irregular breaths that came with tears. Shallie had left and Lantrea finally woke from her unconscious state. Epharen sensed Lantrea's sympathy for Shallie and concern.
But that quickly changed as Lantrea turned to face her. The usually quiet and reserved Sharro Guardian,only one rank above Epharen, threw fiery shades at her laced with rage. She told Epharen off, obviously blaming Shallie's state on her. Lantrea left hastily and Epharen was fighting the temptation of going insane.
* Damn you! You don't know anything!*
She screamed after Lantrea as she shook with emotion.
* Damn you all *,she whispered.
Angrily Gyepsay kicked the empty boxes that surrounded the Gathering. Where was everyone? She had told them she would be there in time for the latest meeting. How could they have forgotten about her? She was, after all, their friend. She growled in anger, muttering all the time about how they mistreated her. Hot tears began to well up in her blue eyes, but she held them back with her anger storming through the meeting place. Her cousin Syremina came up behind her; stopped at the door and peered into the dim light with a puzzled and dazed look on her face.
"Is this the place?" she asked mostly to herself, since Gyesay wasn't listening, "Then, why is no one here?" But Gyepsay wasn't listening: rather she was pacing up and down the alley calling their names" Lantrea, Epharen, Spree, Shallie you -----! Where are you guys?"
Suddenly an idea sprung into her mind. "Syremina how is it that you were able to contact me from so far away?"
" Oh, I don't know. We used to do it all the time on the island all the time."
"Contact them."
"Contact who?"
" My friends. Listen, I know that you don't know who they are or what they look like, but I'll describe them to you and maybe you can find them and relay a message."
"Umm, it might work, but I am not sure."
So Gyepsay explained to her what they looked like and their names. Syremina listened intently for the entire description.
But then she finally interrupted,” Well wait a second, isn’t that one of them, over there?”
Gyepsay whirled around to see Shallie. At least she thought it was Shallie. Her plum colored fur was caked with mud and she looked at the ground, deeply in thought, as if something were paining her. And just behind her came Lantrea. But, where were the others?
“Shallie,” Gyepsay cried as she ran up to them, ”Oh my Gowad, what’s happened to you guys?”
Shallie stood still, her mind silently racing as she struggled to come up with a suitable answer. In truth she did not want to talk about what had happened this night; it pained her deeply. She answered any ways, she was the leader, and it was time that she began to act as one again.
**We were attacked,** Shallie said slowly, calculating her words before she said them, **The Creashaw came, a Nonoshan, and then a Sharro with telepathic powers beyond our wildest dreams... Epharen, is with... is with Caaris.** Shallie choked on her words, her strain of sendings shimmered.
**I believe that we are in great danger,** Shallie shook her head, things seemed to only be going down hill this night.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Caaris was silent, his mind shut to whatever might be sent to him; he was numb... There was a pain in his heart like he had never felt before, and would have never imagined that he could feel. Lowering himself down, Caaris set his jaw on his paws, trying hard to keep her image from his mind though her named resounded all too easily in his thoughts... Shallie.
Zenat bent over Caaris, her eyes soft and sad. She had no idea what to do for him; she lay by him and crossed her neck over his back. Zenat felt that Shallie’s leave had meant more then she had thought, Caaris and Shallie were in love. Could she just sit by and allow their bonds to break?! Zenat sat up right. NO!
Zenat had always been a powerful creature, whether she knew it at the moment or not, and now she had decided there was something that needed to be done by her... she would get it done!
**Epharen,** Zenat tested, hoping that the other Sharro might be willing to help her, though she wasn’t sure whether her sending would reach Epharen. **Please, I need your help. We can’t just let Caaris and Shallie break up... they love each other.** Zenat sat silent after she had finished waiting for an answer from the other Sharro.
Caaris twitched, his mind brooding; life was so unfair! Suddenly Caaris didn’t care. He lifted his head and his eyes flashed. He had Guardians in his dwelling! Mentally and silently roaring, no other Sharro hearing Caaris cursed the world and all that was in it. He knew that he needed to prepare himself for the greatest attack on the Guardians... he needed to gather his people! His bond with them was broken and now he was free to kill again!
Gyepsay angrily glared straight into Shallie's eyes. And she began in a stern voice, " Shallie, I know you are in pain now, but I am your friend and I can't help you if you don't tell me... Shallie, Shallie are you listening to..."
Shallie groaned and said something like, " We... great. danger." And she shook her head slowly up and back down until it rested against her neck.
Gyepsay began to ask her just what she meant, but she realized that it was to no avail. Shallie was completely out of it. And where had Lantrea gone? She could have sworn she was right behind Shallie. She was so deep in thought that she jumped when she felt a nudge on her shoulder.
"What cuzie," she said, obviously upset with having been caught off her guard.
" Well if you are going to be mean about it...,” her cousin retorted.
"Just say it."
" We could cheer her up, introduce me!"
" Fine. Shallie, Sshshshsh Shallie..."
Gyepsay finally met her gaze." Yeah, this is my cousin Syremina. And she will tell you a joke."
"WHAT? Oh, Gowad, why me? Okay, one there was this explorer and he was in the jungle when he was attacked by a headhunter sharro tribe. Upon surveying his situation, he said, 'well I'm screwed' Then a voice boomed 'NO, YOU ARE NOT SCREWED. PICK UP THAT ROCK AND CHUCK IT AT THE CHIEF'S HEAD.'
So the guy did that and much to the horror of the tribe it killed their chief. Then the voice boomed' OKAY, NOW YOU'RE SCREWED."
Gyepsay had to finish the joke for her since she was laughing too hard.
But even thought it was a great joke, Shallie hadn't payed attention. instead she seamed to be in her own little world again. She mumbled," Everthing is going down hill this night... "
There was a momentary silence until Syremina and Gyepsay asked in unisen, "Why? What is happening this night?"
Epharen sensed Caaris was in a depressed mood. He was mentally brooding about Shallie. Zenat, who was still completely oblivious the events that had transpired in the past few hours, was compassionate and wanted to help. Epharen felt her righteous hatred settle temporarily. She could not have revenge or justice now, it would have to wait until later. But she would not forget about it....
* Caaris and Shallie have made their decision,Zenat. Other lives do not ask for interference on such matters as that one they have dealt with.*
She told this to Zenat in quite a civil tone,which greatly surprised herself. But it was true. Interference in serious personal matters unrequested never resulted in anything good. Life was already really shitty as it was without Epharen getting herself involved in something else.
Epharen turned to face Spree. He was still lying on his underside,his dark eyes maintaining their gaze upon his leader. He was yet weary but he felt himself slowly recovering the strength that had been stolen from him.
It was a strange feeling. He knew his energy had been stolen,felt it. It was not lost by his own doing,but deliberately taken. He also knew the same thing had happened to Laden, although his best friend had somehow been felled with much more intensity.
* Spreeander, we must leave this place. That which has once lain dormant awakens again. *
Epharen said this to him, her voice deep,mysterious,and filled with an ancient wisdom. She felt a power burning within her heart and course through her soul.
* My lady, Guardian of our people. A would follow thee unto the fires of hell or to anywhere that you so choose to lead me to. I also sense this hatred. We must take our leave.*
Spreeander answered this with a new tone of voice, one unfamiliar to him.It was noble,valiant, equally wise and nearly just as powerful. He knew not his fate or that of Shallie or the Guardians. But he trusted in Epharen.
Spreeander stood, his legs throbbing and his wounds sore, but he stood and did not wince. He was only taller than Epharen by a few inches, but he looked down on her as her follower. Their eyes locked for a brief moment,exchanging silent emotions and thoughts.
Though the fleeting and undisturbed quiet was interrupted by a low groan, a dim orange that invaded both of their minds.
Pherlladen was waking.
Zenat sat back; her eyes set on Epharen. Why did she resist aiding her friends? Zenat shook her head, if she could find no help from the other Sharro then she would have to help her better friends in other ways, on her own. If only she could find Shallie... Zenat stared back at Caaris, he wouldn’t notice her leaving.
Lifting herself into the air Zenat drifted out the opening. She searched the horizen, her eyes shifting back and forth. Then out of no where another Sharro leapt forth and attacked her. Zenat fell from the air her body landing with a thud on the hard stone road. Another body was draped over her, silencing her screams and forcing her into stillness.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Shallie shook her head, what silliness... what kind of idiot Sharro threw rocks at canabalistic tribesmen...
Shallie shook her head,"What silliness... what kind of idiot Sharro threw rocks at canabalistic tribesmen..."
Gyepsay said laughing," See I knew it! Ever since I meet you, you could never resist a stupid joke, especially when you try to stay depressed for way too long."
Syremina asked confusedly," But I thought Epharen was the depressed one..."
~~~~~~~~~~~LATER~~~~~~~~~~~
"This is going to be great! We will all be together someday. Well that is, someday... BECAUSE YOU WILL NOT TELL US WHERE EVERYONE IS!
Shallie sssshhhhshshshsh SHALLIE! I swear, you are more absent minded than I am."
"Well this is annoying," Syremina whinned, "where is everyone? And why..."
Her voice trailed off and she tunred her head sharply toward the inky blackness. "We should, no it's not that serious of a threa... leave NOW"
But Gyepsay and Shallie were STILL talking about that stupid joke.
Gyepsay turned around, "Huh? What did you say Cuzie? What now?"
"We need to leave now or we shall be seen..."
Gyepsay looked at her with a dazed and confused expression, until finally she understood. "OH!" She exclamed" Sorry Shallie, to late to explain, bit Syremina, she is almost never wrong about things like...," Asuming that Shallie knew what she meant, she began to run down the dimmly lit alleys of the city. " Shallie, I am going to our hideout, the one down a few blocks and in the park. Take a diffrent path, I'll meet you there... HURRY."
Pherlladen slowly opened his eyes,suddenly aware of the pain that consumed him. He had no idea where he was and what had happened was only now returning to him in bits and pieces.
Spreeander. He instantly remebered his best friend and a wave of panic swept over him. Where was he? Had he been killed? Pherlladen must know.
He then realized that someone...no, two someones were standing over him,though he did not see their faces at first.
Pherlladen nearly fell back unconscious with relief when he saw on of them was Spree. And then he was subtly surprised to see the other was..
Epharen.
* Pherlladen, how do you fare? * He recognized her voice,her message coming in concerned and urgent blues,greens, purples.
* Laden, are you all right? Do you know who I am? * Spree asked him with equal concern and urgency,his tone coated ever so faintly with a sadness at the prospect Pherlladen may not remember him.
Pherlladen did not answer them yet. Rather, he tried to look around. Off to his left,he saw two other Sharro in the distance. They were strangers and he was too weary to cast out his information seeking net to get an idea of who they were.
Pherlladen turned his gaze back to Epharen and Spreeander,who still hovered over him.
* Laden? Are you all right? Do you know who we are? * Spree asked him again.
Pherlladen paused and looked so deeply into Spreeander's eyes,searching them, it was as if he was seeking his best friend's soul.
And he uttered only one word.
* Spree.- *
Kerama followed his leader into the air,"Mam, with all do respect, I must tell you that Santaros will not approve of this. That he won't. You should be taking immeadiate precausion on stepping into unknown territory. I do not fear Gaurdian or Nonoshon,for that matter, but Satarous will was be as quiet about this as possible. I, as would you, would gladly tear this land apart looking for my sister and hunt down anyone who tried to kidnap her, but we must obey Satarous's orders. If not, well, you know the penalty."
"Shut up Kerama, or do I have to rip out your precious voice box?" questioned Hieih.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Once they had reached the end of the alley Gyepsay swerved to the right, Syremina following. Down the dark, rat-infested alley, up rocky streets they fled. At last they stopped at a small patch of ground, almost like a park. It appeared that it had been let go for many years.
"What happened? Why did we stop?"
"Quick get in!"
Gyepsay said with a high leap into a near by bush. Syremina followed with out a hesitant look back. She found herself in small cave (or more of a pit as you may call it)But at least she felt secure.
"Now do you won't to explain what you meant you know the 'danger'?"
"I don't want to but I will." she snapped, but then her voice regained its natural calmness."Listen, okay? I had one of those visions. And in it I saw all of your friends getting hunted down and well I don't necessarily know the rest, but something very bad is going to happen to them."
"Wait a second. How the heck did you see my friends if you had never seen them before?"
"Well you were taking so long to explain them so I down-loaded some of your memories of them and what they looked like..."She laughed.
"Then what is so funny?"
"I thought you said you would become a hermit before liking any males."
"Yeah, so?"
"I never knew you had a crush on Spree."
"Shut up! I do so not! eww.."
"Your memory begs to differ..."
"HO-KAY, we are getting way off the subject here!!! So where was everyone, exactly. I mean where WE there?"
But her cousin just stared into space.Gyepsay was about to begi again but then Syremina finally spoke. "No. It was of the first victims. Which would be Zenat and Caaris. They were attacked by an especially strong telepathic sharro. I think its skills might even outmach my own."
"Whao are zenat and Caaris. I have never heared of them before. But how did you know who they were? the only one who whould have any idea about whom you are spea... oh no you didn't. Not Shallie. I am fine, but, but how could you. You could have trusted her..."
"I am sorry. I got scared. And I wanted to know soo badly who the mystery sharro were, well... I didn't read all of it. Only a few sharro that she knew, that's all.Nothing else!"
Part Seven
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