REWRITING, LULS~

Nix/RyliLori/Pocky

A dark blue-grey figure padded through the night, in the meager shade of the tees. It was summer, and so still rather warm, even at night. The shadows, however, were several degrees colder, and that was why the figure was finding shelter there. A small town was to his north; he considered heading through it and finally nodded to himself. It was night. There was no danger in a little town. He stepped into the moonlight, revealing a dark-furred body with light blue and grey markings of different shades. Ice glinted in the pale light, along with a small talisman hanging around his neck.

Around the small town, a shady creature stood, watching. On warm summer nights such as these, the townsfolk held festivals and enjoyed the company of one another. The dark figure grinned. How fun it would be to unleash chaos in this little town during such happy festivities. But no. It was against the code. The thin figure moved closer to the lights of the town, revealing a long fur-less tail, a black body, and strange red markings. Black orbs hovered around her head, bobbing slightly as she walked. Her bright green eyes glistened in the darkness, one slice by a thin snakelike pupil, the other, completely pupil-less.

As he walked, ice formed where his paws met the earth, leaving a trail of spots of ice. With a flick of his tail, the spots melted silently, leaving nothing but a slight wetness. He padded into the town, eyes flickering to the paper lanturns that hung from building eaves, and the crape paper chains that were strung everywhere. 'Festivities,' He thought flatly, and then leaped up and yanked down a chain, the paper tearing and pulling down a long line of them. He allowed himself a slight smirk, but then sighed. The townspeople would notice in the morning, and might come looking for him. Now he cursed his stupidity and kicked the chain off to the side, continuing with his pass through the town. Suddenly he stopped - he could have sworn that he had seen a figure, hovering between shadows and light.

She grinned, white fangs glistening in the warm glow. That xweetok was strange, the type of guy you might see arguing to himself. She backed away deeper into the shadows so he would not see her, but she admired the angsty way he attacked that paper chain. She shrugged it off. Just the normal troubled soul. Angry at the world and how cruel it can be. Blaming it on forces beyond their recognition and taking it out on innocent bystanders. She wondered if anything that had happened to him, had been caused by her. It was likely, most people seemed to have some sort of spat with her.

He let his pause continue for a moment before shaking his head and continuing on. Now he was seeing things, among his other problems. He grunted. Great. As he scowled up at the other decorations hanging from building eaves and lamp posts, he permitted himself a small smirk. The town couldn't catch him if they couldn't find him, so why not have a bit of fun? He let the ice under each of his paws expand, making only small cracks as it expanded to cover the entire street with nigh-invisible black ice - the type that flipped cars and broke limbs. It shone faintly in the moonlight, and he smiled cruelly before padding easily along the ice as if it wasn't there. He'd like to see someone follow him now.

She laughed as she watched him act. This place has proven to more fun than she had first imagined. But now, thanks to that little outburst, he would know for sure that he was here. She shrugged dismissively. She had been getting bored creeping around anyway. And besides, she hadn't talked to anyone for several years. Maybe some light conversation would do her good. But she wouldn't approach him, she would let him come find her.

He stopped abruptly, whirled towards the sound. His eyes narrowed with suspicion as he slowly padded forward. "Who's there?" He called softly, loud enough that one outside could hear him but quiet enough to keep the villagers asleep. He stared hard into the shadows, back to where he had seen the figure moving. Perhaps he wasn't seeing things after all - maybe there really was someone hiding in the shadows...

She chuckled to herself. "Why don't you come over here and find out?" she called teasingly. But she stepped out of the shadows anyway and padded lightly onto the black ice. She didn't slip and it seemed as though she was walking with as much ease as him, but it took some effort to stay balanced. She grinned at him, pointed teeth glittering in the warm light of the paper lantern. "So." she said coolly. "What brings you here? Surely you're not simply here to torment townsfolk?

He appraised her carefully, choosing his words carefully before responding. "Ah, my dear, that is something for me to know and you to find out," He said cryptically, inclining his head slightly. "I might ask the same of you. For isn't it odd for both of us to be here, in this little town, in the middle of the night, hiding amongst the shadows and then revealing ourselves?" He shook his head slowly before glancing carefully towards her paws. "My black ice does not seem to trouble you.

She chuckled. "Well, I did have business here, but it seems as though you have already taken care of that for me. For that, I thank you." It was true that she had been sent to unleash a bit of chaos on these townsfolk for their sucess. And what he had done would serve as fair punishment. "And I suppose it's more trouble for me than you, but I have fairly good balance. Don't worry though, I have a feeling there may be a few broken backs in the morning." She chuckled quietly.

Mmm. I agree." He nodded to her words - they were more true than she knew. "I advise you to keep a close eye on your footing, then," he said, tilting his head with a bit of mocking innocence. "It won't be disappearing anytime soon." He pondered her first words for a moment. "Troublemaker." He finally spoke, saying the statement with complete conviction. "You're a troublemaker, that you are. May I be so inclined as to ask your name, oh troublemaker?" He teased.

Her eyes narrowed, but she also smiled teasingly. "Troublemaker? Now that hurts. I'll have you know that I am no such thing. I'm actually much worse. My name is Apocalyptic, child of Chaos, and my job is not just to cause trouble. It goes much farther than that if you know what I mean. And if you find my name too long, you can just call me Pocky." Her smile widened, wondering slightly if he really did understand her real job. She also wondered that if he did, if he would have the same issue with her that all people had. She didn't dwell on it too long. "And you? You call me troublemaker, but that's much like the pot calling the kettle black. So in return for telling you my name, may I ask what yours is?

Pocky." He grinned at here, and although it was a true grin, it carried something of malice. "Sounds...delicous." Mocking. "As for me, I go by Ryliki. Weather it's my true name or or something false, I know not, but it's always been this way and shall remain as so. Or, if to troublesome, Ryli will suffice." He made a huge, sweeping bow, bending low and sweeping a paw across his body. "Pleased to make your acquaintance, Apocalyptic.

Pocky glared at Ryli's comment about her name, but swiftly dismissed it. Instead she eyed him strangely. This guy was an odd character, and she had never seen such an act of politeness. Especially from a complete stranger. "I've never gotten that reaction before." she said flatly but not unkindly. She chuckle somewhat darkly. "Well Ryli, it's been... Interesting.... But I think we may want to take our conversation elsewhere before someone wakes up." Without a response, she smoothly glided over the ice Ryli had set down, black orbs bobbing around her. She had one more job to do before the night was over.

I agree." Walking even more smoothly than Pocky (if possible) he followed after her, smirking at her reaction. He liked to shake the norm once in a while, indulge in the paranormal. Ryli glanced curiously at the black orbs following after the female in front of him. "What are those?" He murmured quietly as they passed a few houses; with his paw he carefully reached up and batted at one.

I wouldn't touch that if you don't want to die of starvation." she said with a chuckle, not even bothering to turn around or stop walking. "That particular orb contains famine." She turned to face him. "This one," she began, touching another orb with the tip of her tail, "This one contains pestilence. These other two contain war and death. The four signs of the apocalypse. The fifth one," she chuckled again, "Contains Chaos. Does that answer you question?

Ah." Despite the nature of the orbs, he grinned and continued to bat innocently at it, purposefully missing the orb by hairsbreadths each time. "The fifth sign of the apocalypse....mmm." He continued after her, padding along smoothly until he walked evenly next to her. "May I ask as to what this 'other job' of yours is, my dear?" Again with that almost mocking grin as he spoke to her with something of an honorific.

Actually, Chaos isn't a sign of the apocalypse." she said laughing. "Chaos is my assistant." She considered for moment, releasing Chaos, but she had promised him the day off. "My other job," she smiled mischievously. "Is for me to know, and for you to find out." she said mockingly. "Besides, we're almost there and you'll find out soon enough. In the distance, a small thatched cottage was visible. It looked run down and very out of place considering the village they had just left. It was strange to think anyone lived there at all, but a dim light shone through a murky window. By the flickering quality, it was obviously a candle.

He smiled at the use of his words against him. "Chaos is your assistant?" He was mildly curious, padding alongside her, but not enough to ask her to show him. He had a vague idea what may happen if he were to ask her to release her....something along the lines of what her orbs may do if he touched them. Ryli glanced with real curiosity towards the small cottage. "What..." He murmured, shooting her a confused glance; but he stopped himself, knowing that no answer was to come. So he was content to merely follow after her, leaving the black ice and the village behind.

Shhhh." she hissed at him. "They can't hear you." She padded lightly up to the candle-lit window and peered inside. A young kougra lay in the bed. But the kougra was malnourished, in a troubled sleep, and looked extremely sick all around. Pocky sighed as she reached up and pulled down one of her black orbs. She ran one long claw all the way around the outside of the orb, then, quickly pushed the orb up against the window. Surprisingly, not only did the orb phase through the glass, but her arm did as well. Along the mark she had made with her claw, the orb opened up. Black shadows filled the young kougra's room and as they faded, the kougra's restrained breathing had stopped all together. The orb closed and Pocky pulled it back through the window. Although it was her job, and she loved causing chaos, she hated seeing innocents die. Her bright green eyes seemed slightly dim as she drew a small marking in the dirt outside of the ramshackle house. The symbol shimmered golden for a moment, then faded into nothing.

He watched her actions with no emotion showing on his face, nor did he make any move or sound. When she had finished, he motioned with his tail to the left; he wanted to leave the cottage. "I understand now." He murmured quietly, glancing towards the small cottage and towards the window. "Please come with me. I can't stay here...I just need to move away from the cottage..." Surprisingly, his voice was somewhat scared and almost pleading.

Pocky nodded solemnly. She could easily understand his fear and discomfort. She matched him step for step as they left the depressing scene behind them. She was only slightly comforted by the fact that she knew they family of the newly dead would begin to receive better luck, thanks to her blessing. The marking she had made in the earth. She only gave it out to truly unfortunate souls, and this family, with a child so sick, definitely needed it. When the shack was far behind them she turn to Ryli, unsure of what to say, unsure of what HE would say. "So..." she murmured.

He sighed as they left the depressing scene behind them. Sitting down abruptly, he watched Pocky gently. Did she think bad of him? Did she think him a coward, one so easily scared by death? He mentally shook the thoughts away. Why would he care what she thought? It wasn't like him... "I think no worse of you for what has transpired." He spoke quietly, watching for her reaction carefully. "I understand now what your 'job' is and what you must do. I can see you take no pleasure in what you do. In fact, if anything, I think you a better person for how you handled the situation. I only apologize for my stupid reaction.

Pocky let out a slight sigh. "Thanks." she said quietly rather relieved. "And there's no need to apologize. Really. And you can put you soul at ease knowing that the young one's family will have a more prosperous life. The symbol I drew on the ground, it is the reverse of the symbol on my back. The symbol on my back shows I am a daughter of Chaos. Reversed, it brings the opposite of chaos. Order and peace. Although the lose of a son will be a great heartache for the family, the heavens will look down on them with grace." She sighed. "So, Ryli. Who exactly are you?" With her abilities, she could easily find out by herself, but she felt it was more polite to ask.

He nodded slowly, sighed with the most minute of sounds. "I am glad for that, at least." He stared into nothing for a while before slowly turning to Pocky, his head angled towards the ground. "My story may change your opinion of me. I will not blame you if you wish to leave me when my tale is finished." He settled into the ground, wrapping his tail around his body. "You cannot tell another soul of this, for there are those that would use the information against me. You must promise me that you will keep this conversation between us.

I'm sworn to secrecy." She too sat down, her long rat-like tail curling around her. "You didn't think badly of me for what I have to do, or from where I came. I assure, that when your tale is finished, I'll still be here." She did not mean things sincerely much of the time, but those words that just came out of her mouth were the most sincere and truthful things she had ever said.

Slowly his story began. "I was born to loving parents and an older brother. We lived in peace and happiness until I was 6 and my brother 7. We were playing by the river. There were two kougras nearby. They saw us, helpless kits, and attacked us. Both my brother and I fell into the river. I was told that we drowned and died." He paused to let it sink in. "Yes, dead. I woke up 6 years later as you see me now in a lab. I was told that I had died a 'natural death' - or killed, more likely - and that these kougras brought my brother and I to this lab to try and save us. Since our bodies were dead they implanted a program into us...

Pocky couldn't do more than listen.

The program was called TopGear. They were trying to create the perfect weapon, the perfect, most powerful being to use in battle. A program was developed on the computer. A personality was programmed into it. The program was supposed to be merciless, cruel, uncaring. It morphed the body depending on how it reacted to it - and I reacted like how you see me now. If the program showed any emotion, any hesitation to kill, they were failed. And as you can tell, I was failed. All failed programs were to be terminated. But I wasn't going to let that happen. I broke out and destroyed the lab. I was told that my brother had the same thing happen to him, but I don't know his reaction to it. I have no idea if he's alive or dead. After a time I found out that there are still other failed projects out there, still alive. They've escaped too. But the program was shut down after so many failures." He smiled bitterly. "I'm a lab rat, a freak, an abomination of nature.

As he finished, she was unsure of what to say. All she could do was shake her head and smile faintly. "No." she said quietly. "You have as much a right to be as anyone. Just because you fell victim to TopGear or whatever doesn't make you a freak. Honestly, if anyone here is a freak, it's me." She laughed softly, then shook her head. "As I said before, you're not going to scare me away that easily." She stood up and looked away from Ryli, not sure of what to do. He was the closest thing she had to a friend besides Chaos, and he was her assistant. And besides, Ryli was more of an acquaintance. But it sounded as though he may have some unfinished business that he needed to take care of by himself, and she also had her own work to do.

The ghost of a smile appeared on his face. "That's a first." He sighed, and it sounded as if a great weight had been lifted off of him. "It feels good to finally get that out." He murmured, eyes rising to the stars. "I've been keeping my story a secret for a little over a year now, and although it endangers me...it feels good. And although you may be in danger because of knowing it, I expect that you will receive no trouble if someone bothers you over it." It was the closest thing to a compliment that he had ever said.

Umm thanks, I guess." she said laughing slightly. "Glad you feel better about it." She looked up into the warm, muggy sky. The sun was soon to rise, and she needed to be gone. "Urm, Ryli, I have to go. You can come if you want, but you better be a fast runner." And with that, she dashed off, black orbs speeding along behind her. She panted heavily, her forked tongue lolling slightly like a dog as she sprinted back through the forest by the town. She dodged trees and leaped over bushes until she arrived at a sheer cliff. This would have to do. She didn't have much time. She looked back to see if Ryli was following her, wondering if she should wait or not.

What-" Seeing her dash off, he sprinted after her, leaving a trail of ice footsteps before they melted quickly. His paws thumped against the earth, and he could still just see Pocky, the end of her tail and orbs ahead of him. He caught up with her, panting, and gave her a quizzical look. "What...what's going on?" He managed between gulps of air.

No time to talk." she panted as four of the black orbs lowered to her paw-level. "Hopefully you can climb." She lifted each paw in turn and each time, one of the four orbs slipped underneath her paw. Soon enough, she was floating on top of the orbs, with the fifth orb still bobbing by her head. She seemed to be walking on air while she balanced perfectly on the small black orbs. This easily explained why she had no trouble balancing on Ryli's black ice. Silently, she floated up the face of the cliff until she reach a wide gap in the rocks. Pocky pushed herself through the crevasse and let out a sigh of relief to find a large cave chamber on the inside. Perfect for her to stay in. She glanced downwards to watch Ryli as he was faced with scaling the sheer rock walls.

He glanced up at her, sighed, and then carefully began to climb. Ice formed around his paws, locking them onto the rocks, so he was in no danger of slipping. If there were no footholds, then ice would appear for him and he would climb up. After a while he reached the crevasse and pulled himself inside, then promptly flopped onto the ground. "What...please explain?" He grinned sheepishly at her.

Pocky looked down at him, smiling as well. "Sorry." she panted. "The sun was rising, and..." she sighed. She flopped down on her back, looking blankly up at the cave ceiling. "I can't go out in daylight. If sunlight touches me..." she shuddered. She sat back up, looking at Ryli's exhausted figure. "You hungry?" she asked.

Oh." He nodded, stretching out next to her. "Yes, actually, I'm starving." His eyes drifted closed breifly before they opened to slits. "Do you mind if I ask what happens when sunlight touches you, or do you not want to tell me? It's ok if you don't, I'm just too curious for my own good.

Pocky smiled. "No, I don't mind." she said quietly, looking around the cave for signs of something to eat. "Honestly I shouldn't know, but of course I've seen it happen." her eyes grew dull in recollection. "My older brother actually. We were assigned a mission together that carried through the night, almost into morning. He made sure that I was safely shaded while he took the blow of the sunrise." Her muscles began to tense, and for the first time in many years, her eyes began to burn and tear. "I watched him as his body burned in black flames, becoming distorted until tearing apart and fading into oblivion." She didn't let Ryli see her weakness and busied herself searching for food. "All I can find are mushrooms." she mumbled, dropping them in front of the dark blue xweetok. "Don't worry. They aren't poisonous.

Thanks..." he murmured, ducking his head and quickly eating the mushrooms. He shifted a bit uncomfortably, then said quietly, "I'm sorry. I know what it's like to loose someone close to you." He didn't know weather to just sit and leave her or to comfort her somehow; how would she react if he went to hug her or something? Slowly, he stood and gently padded to her, and hesitantly patted her on the back.

Pocky just shrugged him away. She didn't really want sympathy right now. "You never told me why you actually came here. I have nothing else to do here." she did not turn to face him. It was true, she had not been given a job yet, but she did expect another one by sunset. Until then, there was not much she could do. Curse her species of chaos xweetok. Theoretically, she may be able to travel about in the day as long as she stays shaded.

He hastily jerked away, going back to sit dejectedly in his original spot. "I was just passing through." Although he sounded honest, if you had listened closely, you could detect a hint of hesitation before he answered. Suddenly, there was a chuckle from the entrance to the cave. Ryliki whirled around, instantly alert. In the door stood two figures - a large Fire Kougra and an impossibly small Darigan Xweetok. "Awww, how cute." The sneer came from the xweetok, and despite his size, his voice was rather deep. Ryli hissed at them, shifting into a crouch. "Ok, so I lied. I was passing through the town...but I was running from them.

Pocky turned around to face the two newcomers. Her eyes became angry slits and a growl rose in her throat. "Who are these freaks?" she snarled, tail lashing, black orbs bobbing wildly. She looked the two over, unsure of what to think of them. Her claws scratched irritably against the stone ground.

Zeus and Befits." It came out as a growl. "Remember what I told you, how there were two kougras? Zeus was one of them. Befits worked at the lab." He smiled cruelly. "They've been after me for a while, the failed project." Befits laughed, his voice echoing oddly through the cave. "Failed project indeed, freak. You are a chance that we cannot afford to take, letting you live. So you must be terminated. Simple." His yellow eyes seemed to glow slightly. "Don't look at his eyes, or he'll have you under his spell." Ryli carefully glanced slightly downwards, giving the instructions to Pocky. "So, you lost Ria's trail?" He taunted, and Zeus growled. A line of fire sprang up behind him, blocking the exit to the cave.

Pocky averted looking Befits in the eye as told, and reached up for one of the black orbs. As before, she sliced around the orb with her claw and allowed it to open, but instead of the black fog that had sprung up before, A long red and black snake-like creature slithered from it. The darigan quetzal, as it was later obvious, hissed darkly at the two figures, reading to strike.

So it appears you're not to let me waltz away, eh?" Ryli spoke to the other two, his voice hovering along the edge of a snarl, although it was laced with sarcasm. He glanced towards the Quetzal, giving it no more than a glance and dismissing it as a danger to him. If it was with Pocky, he would be ok, although Zeus and Befits... He shook his head, ducking as the smoke came billowing into the cave. He knew what Zeus was trying to do - fill the cave up with smoke so that they suffocated and died. Their only option was to fight their way out. Ice from Ryli's paws slowly cracked and expanded towards the other two, and it only shimmered slightly when it neared the fire. It was a special crystal-ice, and therefore it wouldn't melt at heat. "Brace yourself..." he murmured to Pocky as Zeus snarled and launched himself towards them.

Pocky hissed menacingly and glided smoothly away over the crystal ice as the fire kourgra lunged. She watched as he hit the cave floor with a crack and slid into the cave wall, knocking loose rocks down from the ceiling. In the flurry of stone Chaos also took his chance to strike, weaving around the fallen boulders and rearing up, lunging at Befits, fangs exposed.

As the Quetzal leaped into the air, Ryli's will broke and he collapsed in a heap on the ground. Chaos's teeth connected with Befits's leg and he hissed wildly, droping to the ground on top of the small snake-like petpet. Ryli's eyes were blank as Befits hissed, "Get over here and help!" The dark-blue xweetok sprang towards his enemy, going for the Quetzal as sharp ice coated his paws. Zeus, however, was faring worse. The fire around him leaped onto his fur, giving him some strength over the poison. His eyes scanned the cave for Pocky, and when he couldn't find her, he charged towards Ryliki and Befits, leaving a trail of fire in his wake.

Chaos hissed angrily. Wasn't this guy with his master? But anyone with the nerve to lunge back at him was his enemy. His eyes glowed with malice as he unlatched from Befits and sunk his fangs into Ryli's shoulder. Pocky watched the battle progress, confused by Chaos's actions, but Chaos was never wrong. Then she recalled what Ryli said about Befits' eyes and how he could put you under a spell with a single glance. Ryli must have locked eyes with the darigan xweetok. She snarled, sprinting towards the brawl. She reared up on her back legs as black shadows surrounded her front paws and then shot towards Ryli, restraining him to the ground.

Ryli hissed wildly, flailing his paws in an effort to shake Chaos off of his shoulder. It stung fiercely, but his mind, in its state, only comprehended pain, and pain was bad. When Pocky landed on him he didn't say anything, only uttered a horrible, guttural snarl and clawed at her stomach with ice-coated claws. He let the ice creep up his body in an attempt at some sort of defense, and also to try and free Chaos from his shoulder.

Pocky flinched and wanted to crumple in a heap from Ryli's icy blasts, but held a firm grip on her new opponent. Luckily for her, she had a few mind games of her own. Children of chaos were known for being notorious tricksters, but most just thought it was because they were clever. But manipulation of the weak-minded was easy, and could be done without contact, where as manipulation of a strong mind like Ryli, especially when already under control by another force, was difficult. She moved one of the shadowy paws that was restraining Ryli off of his shoulder where she had pinned him, and over his forehead. Immediately, the shadows seeped from her paw, through Ryli's eyes, hopefully into his mind. Both of Pocky's eyes began to loose focus and roll back into her head as she attempted to break the bind that Befits had over Ryli. Chaos, who had very little idea of what was going on, unlatched from Ryli's shoulder and began chipping away at the ice that was slowly creeping up towards his master while she wasn't paying attention.

He struggled even harder, fighting against the shadows that crawled into his mind. Befits suddenly came flying out of nowhere, landing slightly on top of Ryli and next to Pocky. With a hiss he swatted at the paw on Ryli's forehead - he was keeping his minion! He stared into the xweetok's eyes, yellow light pouring out of them in an effort to combatant the daughter of chaos's powers. Zeus now appeared behind Befits, a ring of fire circling the four of them.

Pocky however, was completely oblivious to what was going on around her. With her eyes rolled back, she could see nothing, and luckily, that meant she could not see Befits' spell-casting eyes. Her mind was melded with Ryli's, as well as Befits, and all she could see was the epic struggle in which Ryli was crumpled before Befits' form, desperately clinging to the little part of his mind he had left. She would have to help him along, and help him fight Befits' intrusion. And to do that, she would first have to gain control, so she could expel Befits. This may leave her open for Befits' mind control, but Ryli was the real one in danger. And so, she began fighting against Befits subconsciously for control of Ryli's mind. Chaos hissed at the fire now surrounding him, and decided that if he wouldn't be able to get this ice off, that fire would melt it soon enough. Instead, he turned his attention to Zeus, and began circling the fire kougra, wondering when to strike.

Zeus glared down at Chaos, but a sheen of sweat covered his face. "You won't get me," he hissed at the Quetzal, letting fire lick his paws and legs. He swatted at Pocky's helper, but he was weakening from the quetzal's masters attack. Ryli suddenly went limp, his mind just giving up from the pain and onslaught of other mental attacks. His last bit of will dissolved, leaving total control open for whoever got to it first. Befits hissed with victory and dove into Ryli's mind, struggling to claim the last part of his mind. If he did that, it would be no problem to kill that annoying daughter of Chaos.

Pocky saw her chance, and lucky for her, she was faster and was able to claim that one last bit of Ryli's mind before Befits, however, now it was much like how Ryli had been fighting off Befits' mind, now she was forced to do the same. Her will was strong, and Ryli had already slightly worn out the darigan xweetok, but this was no walk in the park. Pocky could feel the power and intelligence of Befits' mind, slowly overtaking her own, but she would not give in, even if it meant sacrificing her own mind to Befits control, she would free Ryli so that he could get away.

Befits had the advantage of speed, but the smoke from Zeus's fire was actually distracting him, making the pair's plan backfire horribly. He inhaled a lungful of smoke, and in the instant that he coughed his mind slipped, leaving it open for Pocky. As he coughed, he hissed at Zeus, "Stop the fire and the smoke or you'll kill us all!" The fire kougra, realizing that this was true for three out of the four members in the cave, made the fire blocking the exit vanish, although the effort made him crumple. Pocky's poison was taking it's toll.

Pocky immediately sensed and took advantage of Befit's slip, taking complete control of Ryli's mind, and expelling the darigan xweetok for good. She took on the damage his mind went through, transferring her own energy to him so that he would be able to fight, or run. Whatever he saw fit. With that she returned to her own mind, now severely weak from the damage she had taken from Ryli. At least he'd make it out of this.

He gasped, coming back to reality with pain exploding in his head, equivalent to someone kicking him....hard. "Pocky!" He said weakly, shaking her gently. Befits coughed and then whirled on him, his eyes narrowed, a hiss escaping his throat. Zeus collapsed in a heap next to him, and he glanced briefly at his partner. "We'll be back, you can be sure of that," he snarled, and then dragged the nearly-unconscious kougra out of the cave before their forms shimmered and disappeared. Ryli gripped Pocky and dragged her out of the smoky cave, being sure to still keep her in the shadows. "Pocky!" He gasped again.

Pocky could only barely comprehend what was going on around. She moaned slightly, her eyes still rolled back in her head until she closed them tightly, as if it could block out the pain. She would need to rest for a while, but she was completely at the mercy of others at this point. Chaos hissed in satisfaction as the enemies retreated, then noticed his master in grave danger. He was completely unaware of the mental battle that had took place. All he knew was that if Pocky wasn't helped, his master may... Chaos turned to the figure standing over his master. Wasn't he the one who was attacking him not long ago? The quetzal snarled and moved towards Ryli, ready to fight back.

No, no! I'm trying to help her!" Ryliki was really in a panic now...he was confused, in pain, and now her Quetzal was attacking him! "Oh no, Pocky, please, Pocky, wake up..." He bit his lip, wanting to check over the other xweetok but afraid of Chaos. The petpet looked dangerous, and he wasn't willing to risk a bite, due to what had happened to Befits and Zeus... "Please let me see her? I don't know if I attacked you or not, but if I did, I didn't mean it!

Chaos could understand plain english, so he knew what the Xweetok was saying. And it his eyes looked sincere. The Quetzal calmed and simply slithered over to his master's side, keeping a wary eye on Ryli. Pocky wretched and coughed, eyelids fluttering but not opening. After a while she wheezed, "Are they gone?" Her voice was weak and her limbs felt heavy. All she wanted to do was lay here forever.

Thank you," he whispered to Chaos before bounding to Pocky's side. He started towards her when she moved and spoke. "Yes, yes, they're gone. Pocky, why did you do that? You shouldn't have...you should have gotten out of there!" Although his voice was somewhat rebuking, his gratitude shone through one hundred percent. "But thank you." He gazed at her anxiousley. "Is there anything I can get you? Anything you need? We can't go back in the cave because of the smoke and it's not safe..." realizing he was babbling, Ryliki quickly shut his mouth.

Pocky chuckled then coughed. "No, I'm fine." she said horsley. "Really. I'll be fine. Don't worry." She blinked her eyes open slowly. Everything seemed like one big mass. Except for Ryli, who was just one big fuzzy blue mass. She chuckled again and closed her eyes. "I just need some rest. You should go out and find food or something. I don't need to eat, but you must be hungry.

Thank the gods," he breathed, silently thanking any higher power that existed. "No no, I'm ok. I'm not hungry. I just ate remember? But you...ok. Right. I'll just stay right here." and without any further ado he plopped down next to Pocky, curling up into a ball besides her. "Oh no, shoot, um..." he hastily moved away, remembering her reaction the last time he had touched her. "Sorry. I must be cold, too.

Right sorry. Brain damage you know." she laughed, shaking her head, eyes only slightly open now. She paused for a moment, realizing that Ryli was moving away because of her reluctance earlier. "Sorry..." she murmured quietly. She closed her eyes and smiled. "And don't worry about me. I prefer the cold.