The Hunt Begins

The guard approached Zandrophin and Prasha and requested that they follow him. Zandrophin couldn't help but crack a smile.

"Well...hello again. Don't worry....I'm not here to bust you up....although my partner might."

Prasha, playing along, cracked his knuckles and his neck simultaneously. A wild look came into his eyes.

The guard quickly shuffled the two men into a rather confined space, separated by bars. The guard gestured for Absol to be placed inside the barred room.

Zandrophin was opposed to this...he saw no reason for such measures; Absol was his, and gave himself over willingly. He wanted to voice his opinions, but remembered that speaking to lackeys was not beneficial; they had no real power, anyway. Zandrophin activated the Dusk ball and Absol appeared.

The leader of these people fears your power. I have been ordered to place you within the confines of this cage. Do not worry; it is only temporary, and I will try to insist that you be allowed to be free.

Human, this arrangement irritates me....but I will concede to it, if it gets my warning heard.

Sir, she's coming.

”Evening Zandrophin, Prasha. You all have returned so soon, and successful I hope.”

Zandrophin turned and bowed to Akane.

"Highness, you chose the best....and the best delivered...ahead of schedule. We hope you are pleased."

"Highness, you chose the best....and the best delivered...ahead of schedule. We hope you are pleased."

Zandrophin did deliver as promised. Akane took one look at the caged absol, and back to Zandrophin holding a dusk ball to which she assumed absol belonged.

”There is no need for absol to be in the cage now my guard. Zandrophin is his owner now, do let him out.”

The guard wanted so badly to protest after he had just put him there, but he did as he was ordered.

”Now, do leave us. I believe your presence isn’t necessary.”

The guard quickly scurried out the door. The red lady turned to face absol. They were as magnificent as legends say, especially at such a close view.

”Evening absol. I am the one who had asked Zandrophin to bring you here today. I’m sorry for the inconvenience it must be, but I am very aware of what your recent appearance to me meant, but alas I can’t figure out what it was you were trying to warn me of. My forces have tripled, my people have been warned, but it’s hard to prepare when there is no idea of our catastrophe. I’m afraid; I can’t just sit idly by while my people spread rumors and fear.”

Akane bowed low to the creature as a sign of the upmost respect. As she did a roar of thunder echoed loudly throughout the castle. It began to rain lightly, the sound of rain drops on the rooftops was not hear down in the underbelly of the castle; just the booming thunder.

Prasha glared back at Zan. "Careless my butt." Prasha rolled his eyes. Prasha left the chamber and sat back on the wall in full view of everything. He needed a bit of Hashish. Prasha lit his pipe and puffed. Toxy came over and cocked his head to his side and croaked.

"Croooooooak?" Toxy sat by Prasha, watching his master's smoke ship sail into the air. Toxy had not seen his master depressed.
 Prasha patted Toxy. "Its okay, boy I feel tied up with people. I'm used to being on my own and well now I get ordered to do things, that's why I set up the candy shop. As a form of escape." 

Prasha hushed Toxy for  moment and listened to what Dolos had to say. 

Wind...and rain...shall come to this land of Fire! The work of humans...removed! Everything for naught.........NO ESCAPE!!!

"What can we do? If we can't escape? Where can we go?"

Nowhere safe...safety too far now. Out of time. Must remain......and hope. Hope survive!!!

Dolos stopped speaking. Mentus tried to get him to say more...but the Absol refused to continue; his message had been delivered.

Zandrophin turned to Akane, slightly crestfallen.

"I apologize, Highness...I can get him to say no more...."

Then a dark look came across his face as he continued,

"...willingly. If you are not satisfied...a bit of mental adjustment could be done...though I would be very much against it."

You ask many questions, Human. The other human has told you I will say no more. I can see no more of this disaster than what has been told.

Dolos laid down where he was and observed. Mentus picked up on Akane's distress.

Not good enough…The people of Enya and Pyron have no shelter…

After a pause, Zandrophin spoke.

"Lady...Mentus and I have a solution to your mental dilemma. Do forgive him for prying...but when you speak inwardly without any walls, Mentus cannot help but hear it. You fear for the safety of the people of Pyron and Enya. As far as Pyron is concerned, Prasha and I know of many places where we can hide them, if the need arises. Surely you're aware of the presence of the Underground in Pyron City. I met with their leaders when I first arrived...and Prasha has won many of them over quite well due to his prowess in battle."

He turned to Prasha, and continued,

"Old boy...I need you  to go talk to them again. I may be able to convince them through words, but you can convince them just by showing up. We will be able to hide a few of them within the walls of our building, if we need to, but I wish to reserve that space for our mutual acquaintances. I know you have some issues with me telling you what to do; do not do this for me...think of all the people you will be credited for saving by hiding them there. They will owe you much. Will you do it?"

”It was my fault… It’s hard to hide something so daunting… But yes, there is the massive underbelly of Pyron. Maybe even enough for some Enyans… but alas… I’m afraid not all and Pyron’s underground can be dangerous without protection and guards, but then I’d hate to mess up the current ecosystem they’ve developed.”

Zandrophin put a lot of faith in Prasha to move the Pyrons into the underground and their well barricaded building. Still not good enough… the Enyans.

”If Zandrophin trusts you then so do I. please help protect my people.” Prasha said nothing but to forgive him before he sprinted away. I need more… more shelters… no… even then… not good enough… She went quiet… her head sprinting through all the questions, theories, hypotheticals, solutions, and any other possibilities her brain could conjure. Mentus would probably explode from her brain jumping so quickly back and forth, not that she bothered to guard it, no. she was far too busy trying to think of something, anything she could defeat the storms with.

”Absol. You can answer me this. Am I able to stop this with a little help?” she knew the absol would know exactly what kind of help she meant.