Donovan turned slowly. His eyes widened and a smile appeared on his face as she saw who had just spoken to him.
"Mari!?" he exclaimed. "Oh, thank the Originator you're alright!" he said startling her, as he ran up and gave the attractive otter a hug. Her hair still as black as a raven's feather and still flowing down to her waist, Donovan took note that the past five years had definitely been kind to this otter of whom if he was asked, he would have no issues admitting was someone he'd grown quite fond of. In fact, he felt it wouldn't be remiss to say, that the two of them had grown quite close through their correspondence with one another, in the time between his assistance of saving her mother, and now when they were having this unanticipated reunion.
Yes...Donovan had no qualms with saying that, while he was most definitely concerned with the leadership of the Solmani empire, and with ensuring that they were okay amidst the current threat, it was, privately, Mariana, to whom he'd given the most thought and concern.
Seeing her safe...it lifted quite a burden off of the young marten's mind and soul.
Donovan sighed and smiled softly, as Mariana gave Donovan a smiled and a confused gaze. "O-Okay?" she replied to Donovan. "O-Of course I'm okay, silly. Why wouldn't I be? You know I can take care of myself. I am the heir to house of Fenbrake after all." She brushed her hair away from her left shoulder, as she stated this in a confident tone. "Managing the welfare and well-being of my people. Ensuring they are in good estates and are well taken care of, that's my business." She said with a smile. "Is there something I should know, that concerns my people? Something that concerns their well-being?"
"Yeah."
"What is it?"
Donovan sighed. "You clearly haven't heard," he replied. "Sheldton Tan....he got broken out of his cell by Dylan Frostwood. I have reason to believe they're headed for Gracebrooke, if they aren't there already. My sister...she overheard Dylan say that she was sending Sheldton ahead of her. I don't know how long he's been there, if he's there yet, or what kind of damage he may have caused, but I don't think it would be a good idea to wait and find out, do you?"
Mariana shook her head. "No," she replied alarm in her voice. "No, I don't! But, how will we get there in time? We're on the outskirts between the city and the village of Quenchfire. I was checking on the villagers there, because they've been overlooked for so long due to their willingness to associate with Groundhogs. It's a new initiative Mother and I decided to start, as a good faith measure in association with our growing alliance with our former enemy. I-I must've left Gracebrooke, shortly before what you described occurred. Oh, sainted twins! Mother..."
"...will be alright."
"How do you know!?"
"Because." Donovan replied as he gently placed a paw on the shoulder of the beautiful otter. "I helped to rescue and safeguard your mother once, remember? Do you think if I did it once, I would fail to do so a second time?"
Mariana shook her head as she slightly pulled in her lower lip and gently pressed her teeth against it. "No," she replied quietly. "No, when you put it like that, I suppose I'd be foolish not to trust you Donovan. I guess, I just don't know how we're going to get to the capital in time. What with the fact that Sheldton has a head start on us, and what with the fact being, that we're at least ten to fifteen miles out from the main gates of Gracebrooke."
Donovan smirked. "A fair point," he conceded. "Normally, I would agree with your evaluation, my dear. A head start like that, and us being this far away from the city, in any other instance, I think it would seem hopeless. Fortunately, this is not any other instance, and what is lucky for us and unlucky for Sheldton and Dylan, is that I am now a very different marten compared to the one I was just a few hours ago."
"Oh? What do you mean?"
Donovan's smirk widened into a confident grin. "What I mean is, I've had an experience that few of my kind ever are able to achieve," he explained. "It's called a Shar'mem. A shared memory, that usually occurs between a marten and one of their ancestors when a marten is either dreaming or when they are unconscious. For me, the case being the latter."
"I see. And wait, you were knocked unconscious? Are you alright?"
Donovan nodded. "I'm fine," he replied, "Though I'm grateful for your concern, Mari. It means more to me than you know, that my condition worries you. I assure you; I did not mean to raise an alarm for you. The point I meant to get at, was that this was no ordinary shar'mem. In it, I learned of my family's legacy as Deicides. Ancestral keepers of balance, whenever darkness attempts to throw the order between light and dark and light off-kilter. Unfortunately, I also learned there is a familial blood tie to me and Dylan, through the founder of my family line, Derik Dashes-for-the-Raft. Apparently, he and Dylan's ancestor Dahlia, had two daughters, and from one of those daughters, is the point where Dylan's familial lineage continues to stem out."
"Wait...so she's like...a half-cousin to you, or something?"
Donovan shook his head. "The logistics don't matter," he said motioning for Mariana to put her arms around his shoulders. "The point is, she's being manipulated by an ancient creature of darkness, that has manipulated every ambitious Frostwood throughout Mintaran history. If I don't stop her alongside Sheldton, I have a feeling that both she and Mintara are in for some very catastrophic consequences."
"Oh dear...is that where these so called acquired powers came in?"
Donovan nodded. "Before I was forced to leave the shar'mem, the daughters of Derik and Dahlia enacted a ritual that allowed me to absorb the collective knowledge and abilities of all twelve former Deicides. What I'm about to use, is the focused essence of Deicide Celerity. An ancestor of mine whose speed was so great, that it's probably prudent to warn you that you'll want to hold on for what's about to happen. Alright?"
Mariana nodded intensely. "I understand," she replied as she wrapped her arms tightly around Donovan's shoulders before then experiencing what could only described as a powerful burst of wind, which came seconds later. An event which occurred in reaction to the speed itself, which Donovan was moving at. The marten now was running so fast, that Mariana could not help but close her eyes tightly and scream loudly as they darted down the road.
"OHHH MYYY TWIIIINS!" The female otter screamed, as they moved at a breakneck speed along the path. Her immediate concern being for not only her own safety, but also for how she would appear when they arrived before the gates of Gracebrooke. As it was no small matter in Mariana's mind what the overall opinion might be, should she arrive looking an absolute and total wreck. She had been raised with the belief that appearances mattered. Which meant in no way, shape or form, would she enter the city while maintaining a look that could only be described as totally distasteful for an otter of her position and stature.
Mariana considered it a great relief as Donovan finally came to a halt. "Oh, by the twins," she exclaimed with a sigh whilst she released her hold from around his shoulders so to drop down a foot or so to the familiar earth. "Are we finally stopping? Thank goodness." She murmured, as she worked to comb her hair with her paws and to make it somewhat more aesthetically pleasing to look at, before she also straightened her dress. The otter in a casual sort of way, sorted and pressed at various wrinkles in the fabric so as to smooth them out and to create a much less disheveled appearance.
The otter started to express that she was finally ready to go, when she was abruptly grabbed and pulled to the side of the road by Donovan.
"Wha..!?"
She started to protest, when Donovan gently pressed a finger to her lips and nodded upward, a motion for her to gaze up toward the road where a massive figure made of rock, clay and soil, all bound by mud and vines, was marching toward them.
"A golem." Donovan whispered to Mariana implicitly. "Dells, that's the last thing we need right now. A 60-foot guardian, which unless I miss my guess, was probably summoned up by Dylan the moment she got here."
"Wait, Dylan summoned that thing?"
Donovan nodded. "Yeah," he replied in response to Mariana's shocked inquiry. "Though not on her own though, mind you. No, remember the daemun I told you about? The omnosdai, Lunastra?Yeah...she's probably the one who showed Dylan how to do it. That's her game. She pretends she's an ally. That she's there to help and to be of aid, and that at the last minute, boom. In the case of each of Dahlia's descendants who preceded Dylan, they end up learning too little to late what her true agenda is and that they are only expendable pawns in her little charade."
"I see." Mariana murmured as she pulled closer to Donovan. "So, how do we get past that, then," she nodded to the golem, "without being detected so as to get inside the city walls and so you can stop this whole mess from repeating itself?"
"Hmm..."
Donovan stroked his chin as he pondered this. "Tell me," he murmured as he looked about their surroundings. "Do you know...is it possible that with us being this close to the city, could there by chance be some sort of tunnel entrance around here?"
"What?"
Donovan chuckled at Mariana's perplexed and confused response. "I have a wild idea," he murmured. "I'm just thinking, and hear me out, but five years ago when I first met Searciara Leonard, she and I had a fascinating discussion about one of the Pentarchy Council members. A Miss Belayana Xo'mala."
"Oh?"
Mariana was intrigued by this as she stood in a crouched position. "And what was said conversation about?" She asked, as did her best to quietly follow Donovan. He who too, had taken to a crouched position and who chuckled as he was asked this question while he now searched through the marshes for one of these elusive tunnels.
"Oh, she had theories about Belayana," he replied in a soft hushed voice. "She at that time was rather fearful of Belayana. She claimed, it frightened her how this particular otter seems to have a habit of appearing silently and without warning like a ghost from out of the dark."
"Oh, she does that." Mariana conceded emphatically. "Though still, I don't see what this has to do with a hidden tunnel network."
"I'm getting to that," Donovan stated as he eagerly continued his hunt. "I recall, we were interrupted by Maxine, Searcey's mother, that first day my sister and I arrived in Mintara. She explained there was nothing truly supernatural about Belayana. That her ability to get around quickly and silently, was due in part to her role as archivist and historian for the Otter people. It gave her extensive knowledge to a network of tunnels which had mostly been forgotten by the average, everyday otter."
"And...you believe maybe one of those tunnels is here?"
"Mmm...maybe." Donovan replied. "I'll be honest, I don't really know. Still, it's better than nothing, right? I mean if we can find one..."
"Then we can sneak in underground instead of taking the direct approach. Okay." Mariana muttered as she joined in the search. A smile faintly crossing her face, as she was doubtful that they would actually find the entrance to a tunnel. They had no reference point. No actual clue as to where to look. Two facts which in themselves made Mari want to call to her companion and tell him that this was pointless. That it was futile to search for something that they weren't even sure was here. That maybe, it would be better to regroup and come up with a better plan.
Yes, it occurred to Mariana that she should stop and tell Donovan all these things until she heard him produce a jubilant shout. A cry she would discover, was caused by his discovery of a giant stone slab covered with moss and ancient barely legible markings.
Blessed Twins was this...had Donovan actually found one? An entrance hatch to one of Belayana's famous tunnels?
For Mariana, the idea of such a thing was intriguing enough, that she couldn't help but get down on her knees with Donovan and aid in the process of trying to remove the massive stone. Good twins, the regolith was heavy. If this was taking two of them just to try and move it, how in prophets' names did Belayana move this on her own?
Mariana began to wonder as she grunted and applied all the effort she could, if some of the rumors told about Belayana might be true. Stories she recalled, that spoke of how Belayana was rarely seen in daylight and if so, was not seen in that environment for long. People said purportedly, that she also sported a darker outer fur color than most otters and that her underfur appear paler than most. And that alongside being a recluse who lived in greater isolation than most otters, she also was associated with strange sounds and lights that appeared out in the marshes. Comments, that of course, Mariana had never given much credence to until she had just now witnessed the strength that was required to move one of these entrance stones.
Dells, could what was described in some of those stories really be true? Could Belayana really be something akin to a witch, or even a vampire?
Mariana shook her head and dismissed these thoughts, as she and Donovan finally pushed the cover stone out of the way. The two companions, once the job was done, then rested for a moment just to catch their breath as well as to gaze at the dark impending hole, which was concealed only moments earlier.
"S-So..." Donovan stammered with a weak smile, as he rested back-to-back with Mariana. "What was that you were saying about it being a crazy idea to try and find one of Belayana's tunnels?"
"Sh-Shut up," Mariana murmured as she smirked and rolled her eyes. "Okay, by some stroke of luck, I'll admit. You found one. Good for you. Hooray for Donovan! His lucky streak strikes again!"
"Hah!"
Donovan laughed as his breath was finally returning. "M-Maybe I'm just lucky when you're around," he teased. Mariana in reply, couldn't help but raise a brow. "You get lucky with me around? You realize how that sounds, right?" She asked, as she took his paw and allowed him to help her to her feet.
"What...no. Lucky with you...oh, wait."
Donovan rolled his eyes. "Yeah," he murmured. "Okay. Now I hear it. Sorry about that."
Mariana snorted. "It's fine," she excused him. "No big deal. I was just messing with you anyway. Don't worry about it. Besides, we have something more important to concern ourselves with anyway."
"Such as...how do we safely descend that tunnel?"
"That, and who goes first."
Donovan pursed his lips. "Fair point," he murmured. "As big as this tunnel appears, I still don't think it can hold both of us at once. We're clearly going to have to descend one behind the other."
"Clearly," Mariana murmured as she pensively placed her hands on her hips. "And honestly, if we're being truthful about it, it'd probably be better if I went first."
Donovan smirked.
"What's wrong?" He teased. "You making sure I don't get a look where I shouldn't?"
"You do, and I will kick you!" Mariana teased back a smile on her face, as she jabbed Donovan in the shoulder gently. The otter knowing that Donovan was enough of a gentleman, that he would never do anything like that intentionally. This back-and-forth banter, was all part of the bond the two of them shared. And part of why she cared so deeply for him, was the fact that even though he understood what a serious situation this was, he still knew just the right moment to pull some kind of joke, if only to lighten the mood.
Mariana sighed as she returned her attention to the task at hand. "Seriously though Donovan," she murmured. "My major concern is, we don't know how old this tunnel is, or when the last time Belayana did repair on it was. It could be rickety. It could give way at any moment. Honestly? I just think I should go first, because I don't want you to have to worry about the ladder collapsing under me."
"Because of the stress it will already have endured from me using it?"
"Yeah."
Donovan nodded. "Fine, you make a fair point," he murmured. "You can go first. But I am going to be watching you every step of the way. The moment it starts creaking, I want you to scurry down like your very life depends on it. You understand?"
"Yes, mom..."
"Mari."
"What?"
"I mean it."
Mariana blinked. "Okay..." She whispered quietly as she slowly began to descend the ladder. The female otter now grateful to some degree for the darkness, as it meant that Donovan could not see the red hue which colored her cheeks.
"Donovan..." she whispered.
"Yeah?"
"Um...how old, do you think this tunnel is? I mean, do you think Belayana herself built it, or...?"
"Or was it built earlier?" Donovan could be heard chuckling lightly as he descended above the otter. "Yeah..." he murmured. "I think it was probably the latter, judging by our surroundings. The early otters used mostly stone to build their structures, and some sculpted metal to act as decoration and added structural support. But...I've never seen anything in Mintara, that looks like this..." He murmured, nodding to their surroundings. A fantastic and grotesque garden of twisted metal skeletons which were but ghosts of their former glory. There were but a few an individual could still glimpse and one could see that these had once been architectural titans that towered up to and over two thousand feet.
Donovan whistled at the spectacle. "This has to be Human..." he whispered. "Good Dells. There's no question, Mari. We're in the shell of a human city."
"We're...what?"
"Look around you," Donovan stated, as they climbed further toward the bottom of the ladder. "You heard me. It's a human city. Or what's left of one anyway. Oh! That must be why no one knows where Belayana goes when she disappears one place and reappears somewhere else! Oh Dells, she's the chief of records for the Otterian people! No wonder she knows about this place!"
"What do you mean?"
Donovan chuckled as they both stepped off the ladder.
"What I mean," he replied. "Is that as keeper of history and records, she likely has access to records which have been passed down through the generations, but which have been forgotten by most of the common populace. This place...it likely was a place familiar to the earliest of our ancient ancestors," Donovan stated as he knocked on a pole that appeared to have ivy growing on it. Not to mention, it also appeared to have at one time served the purpose of illuminating the streets. "I'd say," he continued, "It must've gotten forgotten until Belayana stumbled across it."
"At which point she probably read up about it, and learned how various junctures from these ruins were connected to various structures currently existing topside?"
Donovan smirked. "Well, she probably built those connecting points for her own convenience. But yes, now you're catching on, Mari. I don't know how long she's been doing this, but I must say. It has to make things very convenient when she wants to avoid an inconvenient political meeting, or someone trying to stop her for attention when in fact she plans to be elsewhere."
"Also explains why she's considered the most elusive otter in the empire."
"True."
Donovan chuckled and considered continuing the conversation when he paused at the sight of something caught in his peripheral.
"Dells," he whispered. "Mari, get back."
"Why?"
"Just do what I say!" Donovan whispered as he pulled her behind a building. The marten unintentionally pulling her chest to chest with him, as a hunched, pointed eared creature with narrowed eyes, purple wrinkled skin, and sharp teeth came waddling down the street.
"What..." Mari began to ask as she craned her neck around the building, only to be pulled back quickly by Donovan who put a finger to her lips. "Shhh..." he whispered. "It's a thrall." He stated almost in complete silence. "Low level Daemun. Scout. It must've followed us down here."
"You mean...!?"
"Shh! No...if it had seen us, it'd be raising the alarm, and Dylan and her entire army would've swarmed down on us by now. Just...be quiet. The knowledge I was provided from the past Deicides tells me these things don't see very well, even in their natural habitat of darkness. They rely on auditory and olfactory hunting."
"Excuse me?"
Donovan rolled his eyes. He pointed to his ears and nose, so to indicate what he meant. Mariana opened her mouth so to reply with a non-audible "ahhh..." as she nodded her head. The otter afterward then mouthed, "So, what do we do?"
Donovan rolled his tongue against his left cheek and shifted his eyes for a moment before centering them once more as he raised a finger. An indication, that he had an idea.
The marten picked up a piece of glass.
"See that?" He murmured nodding to a lamp light that was still flickering.
"Mmm-hmm."
"Okay. When I say run...you run. Okay?"
Mariana nodded. "Okay," She whispered. "But what are you..." The otter watched wide-eyed as Donovan angled the glass, so that it reflected and focused the light, hitting the Thrall right square in the eyes.
"RUN!" He yelled to Mariana. "That's only going to disorient him for about a minute!"
"O-Okay!" Mariana looked back frantically at the stumbling swearing thrall. It was cursing in an unknown language and was tugging at its ears as Donovan took her hand and ran with her hand in hand toward the opposite end of the street.
Mariana waited until all seemed clear before she spoke to Donovan again.
"What...were you thinking!?" she hissed while she ran alongside Donovan. "Blinding it with a beam of light!? THAT was your bright idea? Prophets, what happens when that thing gets its eyesight back? It's gonna be angry right? Can you tell me, what are the chances that thing tries to call in reinforcements?"
Donovan paused as an echoing shriek rang throughout the city. A banshee call, soon answered by another and then another. It was only seconds before hundreds of glowing orbs began appearing withing the shadows of various ruined buildings. The eyes of hundreds upon hundreds of thralls, Donovan gulped as he heard them snarl viciously. His closest estimation, being that they did not take kindly to the fact, that he had so blatantly assaulted one of their own.
"Dells..." he murmured with deep concern in his voice, while he motioned for Mariana to hurry ahead of him.
"I'm suddenly thinking, maybe blinding that single thrall wasn't such a good idea after all."
"Oh, you think?"
Mariana fired back, ready to hit the marten with more of what she thought about his actions, when she gasped and hollered. "Oh prophets...Donovan look!"
The marten turned his head and paled as he saw a swarm of the tiny imps chasing after them. "Oh...my...word..."
The marten turned back to Mariana. "MOVE!" was all he could think to shout, as he grabbed her hand and pulled her along while running at full speed. The marten in the end, making a futile attempt to outrun these vile creatures who were bearing down on them like a tsunami of claws, teeth, and burning eyes.
Donovan and Mariana both for a moment thought they were done for. They were prepared to be overtaken and for this to be the end, when suddenly as one thrall lunged forward in an attempt to attack them, there was a loud BANG! that was followed by a shriek from this single thrall as he was knocked back against a building and exploded into ash and powdered brimstone.
This was followed by another loud shot, and then another. Down and down each thrall went. One by one, there were shrieks of pain and lament before they burst in ash and brimstone. Donovan in the confusion needed a moment before he was finally able to locate the source of where these shots were coming from.
He traced the fire pattern of one of the shots, up to the roof of a ruined high rise, where an otter with a sniper rifle was picking off the vicious imps one by one.
"Hey Mari," Donovan stated as he nudged the female otter gently. "Up there. The otter with the rifle, you know him?"
Mariana squinted. "Oh, thank the prophet twins," She stated with a sigh of relief. "That's Dexton. Another of my cousins. He's Kysandra's second child and is an expert with weapons. Though what he's doing down here, I have no clue."
"I was sent here!" Both Mariana and Donovan heard Dexton shout as he leapt from rooftop to rooftop, down to the ground level where they were.
He did not have a pleasant look on his face as he approached. "Belayana sent me," he growled as he shouldered his rifle and unsheathed two pistols. Spinning one in each paw, he then pointed them and began firing at the thralls who dared to charge him.
"There are wards on the entrances to her tunnels," he snarled as he spun to the side and first shot a thrall who charged from the front, before also shooting one who tried to sneak from the back at the exact same time. "You two idiots tripped one of her wards, which is why she knew to send me down here. She didn't know who had infiltrated her tunnel system, but she knew someone had. And she wanted to make sure it wasn't one of her enemies who had discovered how she got around with such ease."
Dexton paused. "Stand perfectly still," he told Mariana and Donovan as he threw one of the pistols in the air. A momentary act, which gave him a free paw to reach down and draw a short dagger which he hurled over the heads of the marten and his cousin. A loud shriek was immediately heard afterward, before Dexton caught the pistol he'd thrown in the air. Maintaining a composed, professional demeanor the whole time.
He sighed. "As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted," he growled. "She feared her tunnel system may have been accidentally discovered by an enemy. So she sent me down here to investigate. Little did I know, the intruder would just be my cousin, and...who are you again?" He asked Donovan. The marten in surprise raised a brow at this question. As he assumed that with everything he'd done in the past five years, nearly every Mintaran must know his name by now.
"I'm Donovan," he stated, stepping aside so Dexton could take on another wave of Thralls. "Donovan Dashraft? One of the eight who discovered the lost resting place of Aloysius St. Abbot? The one who helped unearth the Genesis Gauntlets? Who spent five years forging alliances between the various races of Mintara before becoming ruler of Donneystone parish? The dream nation of peace and inclusion? You really are telling me you haven't heard of me?"
Dexton shrugged. "Sorry," He replied. "My grandmother is the head of the Pentarchy, and my mother is next in line. I've never much had a heart for politics or for all the accolades that nobles and upper crust folk seem to pride themselves on. Besides, way I see it, knowing who you are doesn't really seem as important right now, as getting us out of here alive. Do you agree?"
Donovan nodded. "Oh," he replied a bit caught off guard. "Oh yes of course. I take it you know the way to the surface?"
"Yep." Dexton fired off one last shot. The male otter finally satisfied as he'd trimmed the pack down to where they no longer felt confident trying to brazenly pursue their prey. This quarry was too tough for them. So they dispersed back into the shadows where they came from, as Dexton scoffed.
"Cowards," he murmured. "I'd pick off every one of them, if I didn't have more pressing concerns. C'mon." He requested of Donovan and his cousin as he put away his weapons and motioned for them to follow. "Let's get the two of you out here before they decide to return with reinforced courage and numbers."
"A sound plan," Donovan replied as Mariana also responded with a slow nod. "Yeah..." She murmured. "I think getting out of here is a good idea. Not simply because I don't want to run into those bloody creatures again, nor do I find this place haunting and unsettling. But because Donovan has business on the surface with Belayana."
"Oh?"
Dexton turned and gave Donovan an inquisitive look, as he led the way down an ancient, paved street. "What business is so important," he asked the marten. "You think you can just approach one of the ranking members of the Pentarchy, not to mention the consul of the Lod'zhak, like she's someone off the street?"
Mariana placed a paw on Dexton's shoulder, before Donovan could retort. "Hey," she said sternly. "Cool it. I get you're doing your job. That you take the security of those who you are assigned to very seriously, and that you are especially protective of Belayana because of...personal reasons. But listen. This really is important. Donovan isn't just some noble, trying to get in good graces with the Pentarchy or something like that. Dells, he already has that, through his friendship with your mother. So he has no reason to seek it out. What he needs..."
"Is help finding the location of the Garden of the Obsidian," Donovan blurted out suddenly. Both otters then gave Donovan a perturbed look. Mari in particular, as her expression clearly read "What the dells are you doing? I've got this." But she said nothing, aside from giving Donovan this glare. Instead, she just sighed and murmured, "Yes. Exactly. Belayana is the keeper of all chronicled knowledge going back to our very foundations here in Mintara. She has records from the age of Humans as well as the golden age of Musteladonia, that most have forgotten."
"Yes, I know. And he needs this information, why?"
"Dexton."
"What? You know I have to ask..."
"No, Dexton!"
Mariana grabbed her cousin by the shoulder and turned him forcefully to see that the thralls had regrouped in mass numbers and were barreling down the street towards them. Eyes burning like hellish coals as they snarled and bared what was a sea of yellowed razor-sharp fangs.
"Oh muck," was all Dexton could murmur as he motioned for Donovan and Mariana to pick up the pace. "Move!" He hollered to them. "The exit is about a block up this street! Find it, get out of here, and if as you say Belayana is the person you need to talk to, then find her as well!"
"But what about you? We can't leave you..."
"You're going to do exactly that!" Dexton snapped. "Listen," he snarled as he drew his pistols. "You aren't trained to fight these things like I am. You wouldn't last a second. Go. Get out of here cousin," He stated before he gave Mari a hug. "And don't look back, okay? This isn't going to be pretty."
"Wha..? Dexton!"
"RAARGH!" Mariana was held back by Donovan as she tried to follow her cousin who charged into the fray, firing ferociously at every little imp that tried to attack him. "You want some of this you devilish little beasties!?" he shouted with a laugh. "Well guess what!? I Got enough blessed lead here to send you all back to the pits where you came from!" A sound of shrieking as Dexton fired into them, turning them into smoke and brimstone dust, then was mixed with pained grunts and wails from Dexton himself as a few of the imps managed to lunge in from a blind spot and bite down on his shoulder, his leg, and his arm.
Mariana wanted to help. She wanted to rush in and get Dexton out of there. But the moment she stepped forward she received a harsh scolding from her cousin.
"GO!" He shouted to her. "Dells take you, don't worry about me! Just get out of here!" The otter then nodded to Donovan. The marten returned the nod, in understanding.
"C'mon," Donovan urged Mariana, as he gently pulled her away from the scene. The otter showing reluctance to leave at first, before she finally turned and ran toward the exit at her companion's side.
They both had run about half a block, before Donovan spotted what looked like some kind of stairwell leading to the surface. A design which was more modern than the rest of architecture, appear off in the distance.
"Hey," he told Mariana. "Look, I think that's the exit Dexton mentioned. What do you think?"
"What do I think?"
Mari scoffed. "You don't want to know what I think right now," she snarled. "Because right now, I think you made me choose to leave my cousin to die. I think, I don't know what I'm going to tell his grandmother Premiana, his mother Kysandra, or even his sister Lexyana, the next time I see them. And I think, it's your fault, because you wouldn't let me keep him from doing such a stupid sacrifice!"
Mariana pushed back on Donovan's chest, who didn't even know how to respond as he watched the distressed otter go and lean against a lamppost.
He reached a paw in her direction and started to say something, but then pressed his lips together and curled his fingers inward, unsure if he even knew the right thing to say. What even was the right thing to say, as he knew Mariana was right. He felt torn, because he knew Dexton had done what he'd done because his concern had been for their safety. And as he had put it, he was actually trained to handle situations like these. However, at the same time...he understood where Mariana was coming from. To be in a position where she might have to tell her family their son got killed because she hadn't helped...that was...an awkward conversation, at the bare minimum.
The marten sighed. "Look," he whispered as he approached the otter he cared so much for, cautiously. "Dexton...he was looking out for our safety, alright? That's why he told us to run. Because I think he sensed there were more important issues at hand that only we could bring people's attention to. That my first point."
"And your second?"
Donovan sighed again as his beloved glared at him with a raised eyebrow.
"My second point," he murmured, "Is I understand how important family is to the otter people. I understand that the bonds you share with one another are something that are indescribable to most other races. And to have to tell his immediate family, his grandmother, mother and sister, that he died protecting you while you fled...I know that would be more than an awkward conversation. I understand...they might not even consider you family anymore. And I don't want that. So...if you want to go back...I won't stop you. Just know I need to go forward on my own and find Belayana okay? Either with you at my side moving forward, or with you staying here to help Dexton...I trust you either way."
The otter smiled. She didn't say anything but showed her appreciation by giving Donovan a hug and a gentle kiss on the lips. The marten unable to speak or think for a minute. He was so caught off guard by this kiss that his eyes fluttered, and he just smiled dumbly, even after she broke away. Mariana simply chuckled, as she observed this look on the marten's face.
"Hey," She murmured putting a paw to her lips with slight concern. "Y-You okay?"
"Huh?"
"I-I asked if you're okay? You look a little out of it."
"Oh." Donovan shook his head. "Y-Yeah." he replied. "Just...wow. I didn't know my first honest kiss from you would feel that good."
"Oh, I'm that good huh?" She teased with a smirk and a short laugh. "Well...I'll have to remember that. Meanwhile, I do thank you Donovan. Not just for allowing me to go help my cousin without holding it against me. But also, for understanding what it actually means to me and the culture of my people, for me to do this."
Donovan nodded. "Of course," he replied. "You know you're important to me Mari. As well as are your opinions on things. Though...I would feel safer if you took this."
Donovan reached down and unfastened an object from his belt. Mariana with a look of bewilderment on her face, then gently took it as it was handed to her.
"Wait...what?" She exclaimed. "Th-This is your hatchet. The one you got when you beat Kysandra and Gemma at the axe throwing competition! I...I couldn't. I mean I know what this hatchet means to you. A-And what if you need it against Dylan?"
Donovan smiled and shook his head. "You've seen a sample of what I can do now," He stated softly. "The power of the Deicides has given me access to abilities far greater than anything afforded me by a simple hatchet. You're right. It is important sentimentally. But of actual use? Right now, you have more practical use of it than me. So please, take it."
"I-If you say so..."
Mariana gripped the handle. "I'll take good care of it," She stated with confidence in her voice. Donovan with a laugh replied, "Oh, I'm holding you to that," as he waved and headed for the stairwell. A structure of earth and stone, the stairwell itself had been carved from the earth and was lit by torches. While the steps were made from unhewn river stone. Donovan's best guess, being that Belayana was likely concerned about the attention which would come from asking someone to do mason work on the steps for her passageways. So instead, she opted to pick out river stones which were already large and flat enough already to serve as steps. "A clever method for keeping her actions secret," the marten thought as he finally reached the top step and cautiously opened the trap door just a crack so that he could at least catch a glimpse of what was going on topside, before making his presence known.
Donovan could see through the peek hole he'd made for himself several familiar red robes worn by a group whom he'd be more than happy to never have to deal with again.
"Dells," the marten whispered. "So the Anaton Covenant is here is well. Ugh...these guys are like a bad weed. You root them up and a few seasons later they're back in twice the numbers they were before..."
Donovan fell silent when he heard another familiar voice. "Put your backs into it!" He heard the voice of Sheldton shout. "With the Pentarchy under house arrest, and under guard, Lady Dylan expects there to be no reason why with our numbers the city should not be ours by sunset. What trouble could you possibly have run into?"
One of the lead officers could be heard anxiously approaching. "We...We um...don't have the entire Pentarchy under house arrest sir," the officer stammered. "One of them...escaped. Without detection."
"WHAT!?" Sheldton bellowed as he lifted the officer by the front of their robes. "One of them...oh, don't tell me..." he snarled. "Belayana. Of all the...you let BELAYANA GET AWAY!? Oh, you stupid!" He shouted as he threw the cult member to the ground.
"Now hear this!" He shouted to the cult members. "Due to the stupidity on the part of some members present here, we have the Pentarchy's most dangerous member still on the loose! Her name is Belayana Xo'mala! She stands at about 5'9" has inner light cream fur that almost appears gray, outer brown fur which is dark to the point of almost appearing black and is known for the distinctive visor she wears! If you see her...report but do not engage. Any questions?"
"Yes, I have one."
"Yes?" Sheldton replied pointing to a cult member in the back of the group. "What is it?" He asked with an irritated tone. "And make it quick."
"Okay." The figure lowered their hood. "What do you do, if you all are so stupid you can't even recognize I'm standing right amidst you?"
"B-Bel..."
The otter smiled as Sheldton paled. "That's right you traitor," she said softly. "It's me. Now Bran!" She hollered as a plume of smoke appeared above and a raven with four red eyes flew from the head of it.
The covenant members began screaming as the raven dive bombed them. Scratching and clawing at them. They tried to hit the raven away, but every time their hands made contact, the bird simply turned to smoke for a moment before reconstituting in a solid avian form. Belayana meanwhile, was soundless as she made a swift approach toward Sheldton. Her feet barely touched the ground in the time it took to bring her within inches of the formerly imprisoned ex-Pentarchy member. At which point, she then grabbed him by the throat and hoisted him in the air before he could even issue a scream.
"You..." Belayana remarked in a cold voice whilst she watched the male otter wriggle in her grasp like a gaping fish. "Are guilty of sedition against the Otter people, treason, and attempts to overthrow and assassinate those who stand at the core of our societal structure. For this..." She smirked. "...I invoke my power as Ohtar'Senej or Senechal of the otter people and sentence you to death."
"What!? No, no!"
It was too late as Sheldton gasped these pleading words. Donovan watched in shock, from where he was hiding as Belayana removed her visor. She stared intently at Sheldton as her eyes glowed bright red. Sheldton could not look away. He could not even turn his head as it felt like he was drowning in a whirlpool of vampiric energy.
"Ahh...Ahhh!" Sheldton screamed with a final gasp, before light faded from his eyes and he was dropped to the ground like a ragdoll by Belayana.
"Alright," Belayana declared once she had finished with Sheldton. "Who's next? Or do some of you actually have brains enough in those fanatical skulls of yours to know when you've been beat?"
The Senechal needed only glimpse from the corner of her to see several cultists in shock at the swift defeat of their leader. It took a few moments for them to comprehend what had just happened, before they slowly backed up and began to run for the gates. Bran chasing them all the way, to ensure not a single one got brave and thought about returning.
Belayana smirked as she put her visor back on and watched her raven perform this deed. She appeared distracted, from the viewpoint of Donovan. His assumption therein, was that it was finally safe to emerge to the city above.
Oh, if Donovan had only known that Belayana Xo'mala was never fully distracted.
He gasped the moment he emerged, noticing that Belayana was no longer standing where he'd last seen her. But rather, he now felt a strong arm pressed around his chest locking him tightly in place.
"Who are you?" Belayana whispered harshly in Donovan's ear.
"I...I..."
"I asked who are you?" The voice of Belayana whispered harshly a second time. Barely waiting for an answer, as she pressed her arm against Donovan's chest making it harder for him to move as well as to breathe.
He had to gasp just to utter..."M-My name is Donovan! I...I am the ruler of Donneystone P-Parish. I...I came to help. Dexton and Mariana...they sent me ahead. Gloriana and Kysandra...they know me as well!"
"So you're not a cultist?"
"No!"
Belayana cautiously released her grip. "Very well," she replied in the same calculating voice as earlier. "I will trust you at your word for now. I do not know you, so I do not know if what you say is true or not. However, if you say you know Gloriana, Kysandra, Dexton, or Mariana, I have any number of resources through which I can confirm your identity."
"Wonderful." Donovan replied in a dry voice. "Shall we go resolve that then, since the issue of their captivity no longer seems to be a pressing matter?"
"Of course, come."
Belayana motioned curtly for Donovan to follow her. The marten sighed quietly, as he tailed behind the visor-wearing otter. Well, this wasn't exactly how he'd planned his meeting with Belayana to go. Sure, she hadn't killed him outright, but she still didn't trust him which was an issue. Dells. He hoped Valorisa was having better luck with her task. If not, they were in real trouble...