Scorching Sun

[Pyre]

Another split-second glare.

"I will!"
"I will!"

Gyre shoved Jet back and stepped close to Aura. "You need someone your own age, man!" he said, laughing and taking Aura's arm. Jet stumbled back and pouted like a four-year-old.

Well, it was his loss, Gyre thought. A shame that kid didn't know how to be more assertive--maybe then he'd actually get something he wanted. Gyre was just teaching him the ropes.

Jet scowled after them and finally followed at the back of the line, while Gyre stood tall and overplayed the gentleman's act, trailing after the sand cats.


Bane lowered himself and Refia with him down onto one of the mats, curling up against her and closing his eyes, smiling faintly. She smelled like pine and earth and a first snowfall. "Mmm...missed you, girl."

"Um...I'll, um...send food, when we're done," Jengo was saying, but no one was listening. He spun on his heels, leaving them alone. "Well...odd couple. Mmmm...smells like fish." He walked along the sandy paths, finally coming to a small enclosed area, the same place where the old tom had lead Aura and the fellhounds.

Now this place fit the term "room" far better. A massive hollowed-out boulder with a few Swiss-cheese holes made up a dining area. A prized possession for the desert filled the center--a wood table. Actual wood! No chairs, but the table was low enough that this wasn't a problem. Two of the sand cats from before were setting down steaming clay plates piled with food. Lizards, bats, owls, and even a rather scary-looking fish filled the platters. Desert fruit--prickly pears and a few others of unusual shape and color...and texture.

"Where'd you get the fish?" Jet asked as he sat down.

"Mmmm....secret," the old cat grinned.


((Plot part will happen soonish, you must not loose faith! I just need that perfect opportunity...))

[Shukko]|]

((Kay))

Aura blinked, it was strange food, because it was in the desert, so it'd be different than the food she was used too out in the city, alot different than the food there. "Looks good!" She licked her lips, looked tasty, she sat down next to Gyre of course.

Refia opened her eyes slowly and yawned. "Bane...? When we get back... To the city, can we... Just you and me... Live on our own? Somewhere?"

[Pyre]

"Well, dig in my friends! We don't have any traditional preliminaries. Just grab and chew!" The old tom promptly followed his own advice, pulling off a piece of the bird and taking large bites. The others dug in, Jengo sitting down next to Aura.

"Hey, Aura, you haven't showed me your fighting skills yet! How 'bout we spar after dinner?" he suggested.

Jet hesitated as he looked over the food, hand hesitating over the eyeless fish or the burnt lizard. "Uh...." He reached for what looked like a roasted rat instead, holding in gingerly by the tail and nibbling on its ribs. Okay, so it wasn't that bad. Spicy as heck, though.



"You know, Refia? When we get back home, we can do whatever you want. I'll be happy so long as you're there." Bane snuggled deeper against her fur, ready to fall asleep himself. It had been a long week... "That mean you're sick of Aura and her dogs?" he laughed.

[Shukko]|]

"Sure! Through, there's a chance you might get hurt..." Aura picked up one of the fruits first, she didn't pay attention to what it looked like, didn't really seem to matter to her, she just looked at it once and started eating it. "Mmmm, this is good." She said, after she swallowed.



"Noo... I'm not sick of them... But, I just wanna be away from it all... I, I want to live out here in the desert with you..." Refia rolled over so she could face Bane, and pulled him close in a hug. "It'll hurt me a little... But I'm willing to risk it to be with you."

[Pyre]

Bane laughed. "No you aren't. That sun's going to your head. Get some sleep, girl, we'll talk in the morning." He was tired, arms wrapped around her--well, one arm. The other was smashed somewhere between Refia, his ribs, and the mat. He was starting to loose feeling in it and didn't honestly care. "What about a forest? Right temperature for us both... Quiet too. Animals don't scream and chase you around with vases, you know," he laughed. "Aura, on the other hand..." he yawned, drifting off. One ear twitched a little, but nothing more.



"I'm not a bad fighter, Aura. I took down your hell dog friend, you know. Hey, Altae, pass the owl."

Gyre hunched over the food, having somewhat lost his appetite. One elbow rested on the table, and his chin slouched against his palm. He glanced over at Jet....heh, chew your food, kid, it won't bite. Not any more, at least. The old man sharing a war story with the little girl sand cat from before. A couple kissing... and Jengo, having a verbal fight with another cat for bragging rights.

"You know..." he said softly to Aura, "you could get hurt too...."

[Shukko]|]

"I could, but then it's not so easy to hurt me is it?" Aura laughed, reaching out for something random from the table and eating on it, it was small, and she didn't know what it was because she never looked, but she didn't care really.

"Besides, it's not like he's as good as a fighter as I am. Right?"



Refia blinked, he'd fallen asleep, suddenly she felt less tired, but she kissed him and then poked his stomach. "Heeeey... Wake up Bane, I don't want you falling asleep, you can't be that tired... You're supposed to stay awake and protect meee."

[Pyre]

Gyre lowered his head, whispering softly. "I don't know...I don't like him." Jet, leaning in, snickered at the conversation. Gyre kneed him from under the table, effectively shutting Jet up (well, except for a mild yelp that got a few looks but nothing more).

"Eat fast, lady Aura," Jengo said from his end of the table. "I'm ready to get this started." He dropped his food without appetite, gaining his feet. "I'll be in the room we just came from, when you're ready." Without another word, he left.

"Hmmm...trying to rip each other's heads off, sounds like a great form of negotiation," the ancient tom muttered.




"Hey! Refiaaa...I'm in a bed, you're falling asleep, I'm bored. Sleeping makes me not bored." He adjusted, wincing as he pulled himself somewhat upright, the blood pounding in his head for a moment.

"Fine, fine...you sleep. I'll--" He trailed off, ears perking straight up. "Did you hear something?"

[Shukko]|]

Aura smiled and watched Jengo go, but this seemed a little odd. She stood up suddenly. "I'm done." She turned and followed Jengo, back to the room they had come from, this should be easy, they were just a bunch of sand cats right? There was nothing special about them at all right?



Refia sat up slowly and yawned. "Hear something? The only thing I can hear is you... I'm too tired..."

[Pyre]

After a moment, Jet and Gyre followed. Well, hey, they weren't about to miss this. The old tomcat and his lady followed shortly after.

"We'll catch up!" Called one of the remaining cats, finishing his lizard.



Jengo was already there and waiting, crouching in the center of the room. The wide clearing in front of the raised dais was large enough for a nice little battle ground, and the stairs like stands where their small crowd now watched. Jengo was rubbing his hands in the sand for some unknown reason--maybe it was a sand cat custom. "You'll have your ability. All right if I use a weapon? Nothing sharp. A staff, maybe?"



Bane pulled himself up all the way onto his knees, listening carefully. Now he thought about it, he hadn't heard anything either... So why...?

And suddenly he smashed forward, or crumpled forward, rolling to the side, gasping for air. It felt like a baseball bat had been slammed into his spine. He managed to get his head up and look behind him.

A good room for anyone to just waltz in. Between the trees and the rocks stepped a creature in familiar ox-hide rags.

Well, someone had been missing from the dinner table.

[Shukko]|]

Aura nodded, still smiling. "Go ahead, it'll make it more... Uhhhh... Fair?" She wasn't sure that Jengo using a staff would actually make it more far, not at all, she still had the advantage... Didn't she? She was pretty sure she did. She stepped a little closer and then stopped. Ready any time he was. "Whenever you're ready."


Refia jumped up and spun around, ice covering her finger tips into extremely sharp claws, she was ready, and she lunged, swinging out at their visitor.

[Pyre]

Jengo gestured at the little girl in the stands and she clumsily threw him a staff from a weapons rack. Jengo still managed to catch it and do a twirling flair that made it all seem natural (and a touch overconfident.) But he flashed Aura a casual grin. "Let's go, then."

He jumped up suddenly, swinging the weapon in flawless cuts and spins. Fancy, but fundamentally useless. He just kept that silly grin, moving in on Aura fast. Well, that thing could still hurt if it hit you on the head.

"Ha! This'll be a cinch. You lookin' at this guy?" Jet asked sharply, standing up. "Go, Aura! Kill 'im!"

Gyre didn't reply, just frowning at Jengo and trying to remember the old stories. His mom used to tell him stories.... Every night. He loved them, but now they'd all slipped away.



The figure swung up a pale hand and a streak of blue energy shot towards her, following the motion of his arm. It jumped back lightly, lashing out at her with its other hand and its own sharp claws if she advanced.

Bane rolled over again, groaning, gaining his feet. "Refia...Refia, don't!" He hurt like he'd just been plunged in cold water. His flames were weak and an odd, sickly color. Blue at the tips. But it worked... He ran forward to join in the fight.

[Shukko]|]

Aura watched Jengo, carefully every single movement that he made, every inch that he moved, she saw it all, she thought this was going to be easy, atleast for her anyway.

She ran towards him, but spun, twisted around as if dancing until she was behind him, lowered, crouching, through, and she jumped to kick the sand cat in the back.


Refia jumped back, this was going to be a little hard, she wasn't going to be able to do this... The ice around her hands shattered, she was too week, but maybe she could try something... Ice formed around her arm, until it was like a whip, it could even bend, but it was fragile and weak, and would probably shatter whenever it made contact, but she swung.

[Pyre]

Jengo merely swung the butt of the staff behind him, catching her leg to block as he spun around. "Too easy, Aura... Come on, show that stuff you had in the desert earlier!" He backed up, still grinning, then took the end of the staff in both hands and swung, hard, like a batter, the staff whistling through the air.

The last dregs of twilight were slipping away now. Gyre leaned forward, balancing on the balls of his feet. Sand cats. Not just in name. They were one with the desert like the fellhounds and the desert tribes. Older than both put together.



The figure let the whip hit--actually moved into it. But another hand was thrown out, and another flash of energy for her ribs.

Then two things happened almost simultaneously. The flaming shape that was Bane lunged for the cat, smashing into its head with fangs and flames full-throttle. And, second, two more hooded figures strode in through the main entrance, holding javelins.

[Shukko]|]

Refia hit the ground hard, she was in pain, and she didn't like this, she was trying to gather her energy together, and gather the moisture out of the air, lots of it, as much as she possibly could.

Ice sprung up from the ground, covering it, freezing it, making it cold and slippery, these cats weren't used to the cold, so she was going to teach them how to have fun in the snow.

A few pillars sprung up too, small, but useful.

Aura brought up her forearm, and blocked the staff, there was a loud crack when she did it, but she stayed silent, her ears twitching. "You sure? Well... If you really want to..." Winds flared up around her, very violent and strong at first, but they quickly calmed to more of a strong breeze, like trying to take an umbrella out of your hand, but yet, you could still hold it easily.

[Pyre]

Jengo's grin had turned to a mad sort of delight. The wind howled in his ears, sand flying up and choking the air. "Outstanding! I've heard of people with powers like this, but now I actually get to see it!"

"Boo! Less talking, more fighting!" someone shouted from the stands. Three guesses who.

Jengo immediately went in with a sharp jab to her face and a sweep down--painful if it hit, handy for making her move back if she didn't--followed by another swing with the other end of the staff.



The two newcomer cats stepped uncertainly on the ice, careful to keep their feet. Well, they'd never actually been on frozen ground before, but it seemed easy enough. They just had to keep Refia busy...

One of the javelins were thrown straight at her while the other cat took as large of steps as he dared over the icy ground towards her.


Bane and his opponent were rolling on the icy sand, Bane biting and clawing, the cat, his hood fallen off, holding him back with bare hands and sending shocks of the blue energy at him whenever there was an opening. Bane's flames were getting weak, to the point where they weren't really a factor in the fight anymore. And he was shaking...