Part B: Spider Forest
Light filled the area where Quatre and the hooded figure had once been, and several nasty looking beasts the colour of flesh, which immediately began to attack them. Once they were dead, Trowa turned to the others. The expression of grief that Heero had worn when he had heard of the corruption of his order matched the expression on Trowa's face.
"He's gone. Quatre's... gone," Trowa said. "He's been taken to..."
"Hell," Duo said flatly. "Quatre's in Hell. Fuck, things just keep getting better, don't they?!"
"The sooner we defeat Mephisto, the sooner we can help Quatre," Heero added. Wufei was... gone. He had left the others, scouting on ahead rather than share their grief.
How could this have happened? Wufei was asking himself as he walked through the jungle. We are strong together, invincible almost. How are we now reduced? I refuse to think Quatre was weak. Wufei spotted a small stone bridge, and beyond it, strange blue creatures.
Wufei rejoined the group, quietly telling them what he found. With heavy hearts, they ventured into the jungle.
They encountered more blue creatures, which were called Cloud Stalkers. They were lizard-like flying creatures, small but vicious. As well, there were small jungle people, less than half their height called Flayers, but they wielded blowguns that held small but nasty darts.
One of these creatures held a strange jade statuette. Duo tucked it into his belt.
"We should show Deckard Cain," Duo noted. The others agreed, though when he wasn't fighting, Trowa looked despondent.
Duo read out from a scroll of town portal and a blue portal appeared in front of them. One by one they stepped through.
They appeared near Deckard Cain, who seemed surprised to see them.
"Hello. Where's young Quatre?" he asked. A pang of grief hit Trowa, more painful than any blow by mortal hands.
"He's... gone," Trowa said quietly. Before Deckard could repeat that, Duo spoke.
"Quatre was grabbed by your dark wanderer, probably Diablo, and dragged off to hell. We will get him back, but right now we need you to identify something for us."
"Of course, of course. How tragic!" Deckard muttered as Duo showed him the statuette. Deckard's eyes lit up in recognition. "A jade statuette! Meshif collects these. I'm sure he can tell you more."
Duo nodded, taking the statuette to Meshif while Deckard Cain spoke soothingly to Trowa.
"Praise you!" Meshif said the moment he saw the statue. "This one will complete my collection. Please, take this golden bird in exchange, along with my thanks."
"Umm, you're welcome," Duo said, a bit confused. He returned to Deckard Cain. "Hey, old man, know what this is?"
Deckard ignored the 'old man' part. "I've heard legends about a man named Ku Y'leh who made a study of life and death. His ashes were ensconced inside a golden bird statue. It was a very strange tale..."
"Strange... bird..." Duo muttered to himself, then snapped his fingers. "Come on!" The others, startled, followed Duo as he walked rapidly along the boardwalks to a small hut. "Hey Alkor, open up!" Duo turned, grinning at them. "Alkor's a friend of Howard, one of my old instructors. I'd forgotten he lives in Kurast." Duo pushed the door open.
"Why can't you people just leave me alone?!" the old man griped. "I... oh, you're new here, aren't you? I'm Alkor the alchemist. I make potions and salves, but don't make a habit of coming here, I don't like to be disturbed while I'm studying!"
"Hey Alkor, I'm Duo. A student of Howard's." Duo smiled winningly at him. "And I have something for you."
"Howard? Something?" Alkor asked. Duo showed him the statue. "Oh, the golden bird of Ku Y'leh! Thank you. Now, go away while I experiment with the ashes." Alkor made shooing motions. "Go on!"
They found themselves a few feet away, staring at the dark, murky water. Heero was watching the cabin's chimney which was currently giving off green smoke, punctuated with gold sparks. Duo and Wufei were looking at the water, wondering how deep it was and what was causing the strange bubbling. And Trowa... Trowa was sunk beyond mention in depression.
I should have been there, with him. I should have done something to stop Diablo. I should have, I should have...
*Brother Trowa, why do you weep?* asked one of his ravens. Trowa knew they were a mating pair.
*Because my... friend... is gone,* Trowa said. His other raven pecked him.
*Your mate,* she said firmly. *Your mate is unharmed. Have faith, and he will fly back to you.*
"He is not my m--" Trowa suddenly realized he was speaking out loud and stopped talking.
"I have done it!" Alkor cried out. "From the ashes of Ku Y'leh, I have mixed you a potion!" He handed them each a green-gold flask, and gave an extra one to Trowa. "For the absent one," Alkor explained.
"Drinking someone's ashes. Doesn't that, like, come perilously close to cannibalism?" Duo muttered before drinking the potion down. Duo suddenly sat up straighter. "Hey!"
Heero looked concerned. "What is it?"
"It's life improving potion! Rock on! This'll be a good edge for fighting Mephie," Duo exclaimed. The others looked doubtful, but quaffed their potions. Trowa tucked the one for Quatre aside and remembered the words of his ravens. He would see Quatre again. But his greatest fear was that Quatre would be corrupted by Diablo and he would be forced to destroy the blond sorcerer he'd come to care about.
To Be Continued... *insert demonic laughter here*
Back to Act IIIa
On to Act IIIc