Savrin, Zephyr, Abbilion and Diane all stood at the entrance to a disused subway station, looking at the dark stairway leading downwards.

“You sure the subway will lead us to Yuira’s domain?” Diane shivered, as she felt the cold night winds chilling her.

~No – but I can.~ Came a soft, feminine giggle.

All four of them jumped, as Savrin’s sword jiggled in its scabbard.

“Kira?” Savrin breathed. “Is that you?”

~No – it’s Yummei in disguise.~ Came the childlike giggle. ~Are you going to talk all day? Or do I just hang here in this boring scabbard and spend another eternity?~

Diane looked at Abbilion, who chuckled softly.

“Aye – that’s Kira alright.” Abbilion spoke. “Go on Savrin – she’s awoken for a reason.”

Slowly, reverently, Savrin unsheathed his katana, feeling the warmth in his paw, as it gleamed with a bluish light around the edges and quivered in his grasp.

~You really need to clean me more~ Came the pouting, childlike voice from the sword. ~Really – such…disrespect!~

Savrin sighed with resignation, long having forgotten how demanding and childish Kira was – but respecting her immense powers.

“Kira – we are – ” Savrin spoke calmly.

~Yuira? She’s the least of your problems – well – she won’t be if you don’t stop the yap and shift the paws. Yummei’s here too. ~

Zephyr’s eyes bulged, almost jettisoning themselves from their sockets. “Yummei?”

There came a soft sigh of exasperation. ~No – it’s the Angel of Love and Happiness come to spread joy and love. Idiot Firewolf – there is only one Yummei – the ‘Great Destroyer of Worlds’ the ‘Possessor of Souls’….~

Diane giggled weakly, despite the seriousness of what Kira said, watching Zephyr’s muzzle wrinkle in anger, as Kira’s mocking voice taunted him.

“Kira – please – be nice.” Savrin chided her. “Now – okay – we know Yummei’s here, hence why you were woken – you know his presence well. Our immediate goal is to find Yuira; she is the key to the whole thing. Where is she?”

There came a pouting, sulky voice from the sword. ~For that – I’m not going to tell. You’re mean to me Savrin – you rarely clean me, you keep me in that stuffy scabbard, never talk to me – why should I help you now? ~

Savrin bristled in rising anger, but Diane quickly stepped in and spoke calmly to Kira, seeking to calm her.

“Kira? Its Diane – ” Diane spoke softly. “I know you are upset – but please, this is very important! Yuira is evil – there is no denying that, but we must stop Yuira, as she kidnapped Mother Coral’mi – a Water Furmental – and we love Coral’mi with all our hearts. She is kind, affectionate, loving – and if you help us – I will make sure that she punished Savrin, for not taking better care of you. Also – you remember that Emerald pommel stone I stole from the Tai’far? That one you liked a lot? Help us – and I’ll give you the pretty stone, and ask Savrin to have it set in the pommel, just where you wanted it. Deal?”

There was a lengthy silence – the Kira finally spoke, in a sniffling, childish voice.

~ Deal – but Savrin’s still mean. Yuira’s lair is in an old underground temple – a few miles south-southeast of here. Sure – these…tunnels could get you there – but it’s the long way around. ~

Diane, Abbilion, Savrin and Zephyr looked at each other in confusion, and Savrin shrugged, as if to say he had no idea what Kira was raving about. With a childish giggle, the spirit of Kira suddenly burst forth a shimmering explosion of emerald
green power – that enfolded the quartet and there was a blinding flash – when it dissipated, only the falling papers and disturbed leaves remained, swirling through where they had stood…they had vanished in to thin air….

*

Back in the temple, Yuira weaved her paws and chanted, as the rising and falling voices of the hundreds of faithful rang out, as Yuira began the powerful enchantments. Coral’mi, her paws bound with tight, painful manacles and her muzzle tied shut with a leather thong, watched on helplessly, feeling her blood chilling with the magicks Yuira was weaving. As Yuira’s voice rose higher and higher, a shimmering portal of swirling blackness appeared behind her, and Yuira smiled, then the smile was wiped from her muzzle as she seen the brightening emerald glow, that formed only a dozen feet away.

It glowed brighter and brighter, and her followers shied away, averting their gaze from the blinding glow. With a soft pop of displaced air, Savrin, Zephyr, Diane and Abbilion appeared, facing the stunned Yuira. Yuira screamed and her paws lashed out towards them, as ebony bolts of lightning sizzled across the gap between them, and were harmlessly absorbed by the shield around them, that sizzled and sparked with emerald flames as it swallowed up the dark magicks.

“You dare interrupt me – ” Yuira snarled in rage.

Savrin stepped forwards, glaring at Yuira. “They do not dare – I do. This is my fight Yuira. Let Coral’mi go – and I’ll let you die swift. Refuse – and I will make you suffer unlike anything you could dream of.”

Yuira smiled, and then ordered Coral’mi to be dragged forwards by two guards, who held long daggers. One against her throat, the other against her ribs.

“Savrin Furfire – we meet again – oh…how I have so looked forwards to our reuniting.” Yuira growled mockingly. “When I last crossed blade with you – I was weak…now…I am strong – oh – how much stronger – you will never know.”

“Step on up Yuira – so I can smack that black hide of yours right back down.” Savrin growled dangerously.

Yuira raised an eyebrow slowly, and then smiled sweetly, her face becoming calm and composed – before her paws snapped up and she shrieked a command…that shook the temple to its very foundations. All around them, the loyal followers died in their hundreds, their ghostly souls rising up from their corpses, then rushing towards Yuira, shrieking in agony and hate, as she
buckled and twisted, as she absorbed their souls into herself, becoming infused with the life force energy of those she had just killed. Gasping, Yuira slowly got back to her paws, then rose up to her full height, and delicately licked her paws.

“Wow…what a rush – ” Yuira gasped, wiping sweat off her forehead.

Savrin bristled in rage, sickened and horrified at what he and his friends had witnessed, and he heard Diane quietly crying behind him. Taking a step forwards, he heard a muffled cry of pain from Coral’mi – and his gaze flicked to her, as she
shuddered, a thin trickle of blood running down her throat.

“Do not even think it Firewolf – ” Yuira growled, as she let the lightning crackle from her paws. “I know your powers – fickle, pathetic magicks that they are. If you value the life of your – miserable – little foal behind me, then I give you a chance. Best me in combat – you and me – and I’ll let her go. She has almost become a bother to me anyway.”

Kira’s telepathic message flashed across Savrin’s mind. ~ Savrin – she is using magicks on you – do not listen to her – she is trying to make you angry enough to attack! You must not do… ~

Savrin shot back a scathing reply at Kira, and she fell silent, but Savrin could feel her bitter resentment.

“Alright Yuira – you want a piece of me, you cold hearted bitch?” Savrin snarled, as he strode out into the main area of the temple. “Here I am – give me your best shot.”

Yuira somersaulted and came to rest a few yards from Savrin, her eyebrow raised mockingly. “My…best? Savrin – it would destroy you before I’d even warmed up. I’ll play fair – I will not use my dark powers against you, as even one percent of my
power – would destroy you.”

“Oh – do not flatter yourself so Yuira – I whipped your tail once before – and as the Great Mother is my witness – I’ll do it again.”

Yuira crouched in the ready position, then made a mocking half-bow to him, as she shed her heavy robes – to reveal the twin wrist blades strapped to her forearms. Seeing the glance of momentary fear touch Savrin’s eyes, Yuira grinned.

Like a black tornado, Yuira leapt and pressed the attack, making Savrin scream as her blades ripped through his thigh, staggering him and dropping him to the floor. Yuira leapt up and over him, then spun around and licked the blood from the talons.

“Mmmm – yummy. I’d forgotten how good you taste Savrin.”

Savrin gasped and shuddered, then slapped his hand against his thigh and with a scream, he cauterised the slashes and slowly got to his feet again, shuddering with his growing rage.

“First blood – ” Savrin acknowledged. “Yet that will be the last of my blood you draw Yuira – prepare to give Yummei my greetings – as I’m going to send you to hell to deliver that message in person.”

Yuira blinked a moment in surprise, then grinned and nodded, before she leapt and spun, then screamed as Savrin ducked her flashing talons, a quick slash cutting across her stomach – only her lightning reflexes saved her from being disembowelled.
Breaking away, Yuira placed a paw against the wound and looked up at Savrin, then giggled evilly.

“That the best you got – pup?” Yuira sniggered. “I thought you’d be a worthy challenge for me – ”

To Savrin’s surprise, Yuira unstrapped her talons and threw them away, as she stretched, her spine crackling.

“Pick up your weapons Yuira – ” Savrin growled at her.

“Why? Too afraid to challenge me without my talons? I do not need them to kill you Savrin…I’d prefer to do it with my own paws – so I can feel your last moments on this earth, as I tear your heart out….” Yuira responded – then bounced and leapt at Savrin.

He raised his katana swiftly, then in the heartbeat of time it took for him to realise his mistake – Yuira dropped and rolled, her foot paws flashing and slamming into his stomach, driving him back and making his head hit the floor with a sickening crack. He lay there, momentarily stunned – as Yuira bent and picked up his katana, grinning.

“Fitting – isn’t it? You’ll die by you own…swo…urk!” Yuira suddenly stiffened, as she felt the full force of the enraged Kira flood into her body.

Screaming, Yuira writhed and buckled, as Kira’s powers lashed like razors through the Weasel’s body, making Yuira scream and writhe. With an overwhelming surge of dark power, Yuira snarled and heaved the sword at Savrin, who screamed and rolled
away, as the blade sizzled as it hit the stone floor, melting its way into the stone, before it stopped.

“Such…power – ” Yuira gasped, as she shuddered and panted, feeling Kira’s residual powers fading.

Seizing his opportunity, Savrin rolled to his feet, and snatching up his blade from the floor, he felt the rage of Kira infuse him with a terrible purpose and his hate was blasted away, as a cold, calmness settled over him – as he waited as Yuira got back to her feet.

“So – you won’t fight with honour?” Yuira growled. “Very well – all bets are off. I’m taking off the kid gloves now Savrin – you hurt me, I won’t deny that – but you really should not have done that. Now I’m angry. When I get angry – and –
hurt…well you’ll find out….”

“Bring it on Yuira – I’m tired of all your boasting.” Savrin spoke quietly, as he snapped his katana up in a salute.

“Indeed – ” Yuira growled quietly. “Pray for a mercifully quick death Savrin – because you will not get one.”

Yuira leapt for Savrin, and as her body flashed and twisted, Savrin barely managed to dodge and weave away from her, her sharp claws ripping through his clothing and flesh with equal ease – then he screamed as she somersaulted over his head – then kicked him savagely from behind – propelling him forwards into the blood spattered altar. There was a sickening crack of bones, and Savrin cried out in agony. Seizing the opportunity, Yuira leapt onto his back, her muzzle curling in a mocking smile, as her tight grasp gripped around his upper body, and her legs encircled his hips.

“Time to die firewolf – ” Yuira growled, then he head snapped down and her razor sharp teeth tore into his throat…

Savrin screamed – but his screamed turned to choking gurgles, as he felt her rip open his jugular – her grasp tightening as she began drinking his blood like it was a wine. Each sickening suck from her powerful throat muscles made Savrin buck and writhe, but he was rapidly overwhelmed by the sickening nausea that flooded his body. Yuira growled and tightened her grip even more, as she shuddered in delight, draining Savrin’s blood faster and faster, her jaws locked around his severed jugular.

“Not…today…Yuira….” Savrin’s faint gurgle was heard.

With a shriek – he let forth a savage blast of magicks, that sent Yuira flying, her body smacking wetly against a pillar, that cracked with the impact, the sickening sound was like a wet blanket smashed against it. Clutching a hand to his throat, from which blood spurted, Savrin retrieved his katana and crumpled to his knees.

“Kira – help me…” Savrin retched. “Please – I need you to heal me – ”

Savrin’s body suddenly exploded into a brilliant emerald glow, and then as it dissipated, he rose to his feet, removing his bloodied hand and all could see the dark mottled flesh. He strode purposefully over to the pillar, where Yuira lay like a broken doll, barely breathing.

“Get up Yuira – ” Savrin rasped. “Meet your death on your feet – not grovelling like a coward – ”

With an explosion of movement, Yuira sprang upwards, her paws interlaced and driving themselves like pistons up under Savrin’s chin, sending the firewolf flying backwards, knocked clean off his feet. Yuira cackled, then coughed up blood and held her side, wincing at the broken ribs. She stalked across to where the stunned firewolf lay, then using her dark magicks, she seized him by the throat in a crushing grasp and lifted him ten feet off the ground – shaking him like a dog shakes a rat. With a snort of contempt, she used her magicks to throw him against the pews, his body smashing them to match sticks.

“This isn’t over firewolf – not by a long shot.” Yuira snarled, then choked and spat up a bloodied phlegm. “Come through the portal – if you dare – and we will finish it…one and for all….”

Before Savrin could get back to his feet, Yuira, the two human guards and Coral’mi had vanished through the swirling portal. A tremor rippled through the cavern, and the great pillars quaked and rumbled, as the shaking grew stronger. There was a loud purring of splitting stone, then a tremendous crash as the ceiling above broke loose and smashed into the floor.

“Diane – we got to go!” Abbilion screamed.

“You think?” Diane shot back, as she ran to Savrin’s side, barely managing to drag him away before a chunk of stone smashed down, the sharp shards cutting across her body.

“Savrin – we – we lost Coral’mi – ” Zephyr growled.

“Then we’ve got no – choice.” Savrin snarled. “It…its not your fight. This is between Yuira and me…I’m going alone.”

“Like hell you are!” Abbilion and Zephyr screamed above the collapsing temples roar. “You’re not well enough to face her – we’re a team remember? We’re all in this together….”

Together, the four friends linked arms and threw themselves into the dark, swirling maelstrom of the portal – just as the temple roared and collapsed on their heels….

To Be Continued.