A week had passed since I had left KJ to return to my home land
of Insanity to add two Vampires to the Clan. But it was finally finished and I
could return to KJ’s side. Does he miss me as much as I miss him? I wondered as I prepared to teleport back to where I last saw him.
As soon as I appeared in the clearing I immediately knew he wasn’t there
but I had to try, “KJ?”
Mutt and Kari walked out of the woods. It was those two and no
one else.
Mutt looked at me soberly, “He had to take care of things on
Crucible. Something went wrong Miss Head Honcho lady. When he left he took a
company of soldiers with him then he bumped that company up to a regiment then
that regiment up to a division. What ever happened he didn't want it to get to
as he said ‘The most intimate place of my life.’ Messengers say the battle that
took place was bloody. They say Head Boss man had to become Nightmare. It’s over
now. He's involved in the clean up along with most of the Council and Tribunal.
He told me to tell you he was sorry he couldn't be here when you came. If you
want to see him right now I can take you to him Miss Head Honcho Lady. But I
don't know what state he's in. They Say the Currooks and Cragnors along with
Blood Angels were involved. Those three are a nasty combo. They say the line was
barely held.”
Kari watched me sadly then looked over at Mutt, “We should take
‘er to ‘im Mutt.”
“We should Widow. Come with us and if you have questions we'll
answer them along the way. I need to check on my wife and kids Miss Head Honcho
lady.” They both turned and started walking into the forest. Mutt called over
his shoulder, “You comin’?”
I followed the two wraith-like and said with a voice barely
above a whisper, “Stop calling me that. If you want to call me something then
call me by my name. ...He had to call on his Nightmare side? The fight must not
have been going well...” I followed them farther but stayed
silent.
Mutt answered me without looking back, “No ma'am It must not
have.”
Kari’s voice revealed her impatience when she next spoke, “This
is takin’ too long, e must reach em quickly. Open a
rift.”
“He'd kill me you know.”
“No e won't.”
Mutt looked back at me to see me walking with my head hung,
“This is not your fault. This has gone on for nearly a decade. 6 years he’s
fought without takin’ a break. Six years.... He's warred against hisself. No
quarter and no surrender. This was goin’ on long before anyone knew and long
before you. Don’ take me wrong you’re the best thing that has gotten to him.
Ever. No lie. No joke."
Kari stopped walking and turned to face me. With a gentle voice
that didn’t suit her personality she continued what Mutt had been trying to say,
“Don’ think at ye had enathin’ to do wit this. E ‘ave never seen im happier in
all ar days in knoin im. Never ‘as he smiled as much as he does
now.”
I nodded then looked up, “Does he really smile more
now?”
Kari nodded slightly.
Mutt took a staff from the sling on his back and made a slicing
motion through the air in front of him like he was trying to cut it. A slit of
darkness wide enough to fit through appeared as he drew the staff a way, “That,
Allacia, is a rift. Kari lead her through, we don't want KJ’s girl to get lost.
I'll keep the rear.”
Kari walked over to me and took my hand firmly then pulled me
through the rift and into a whole new world, “Welcome to Crucible. See owt ere,
‘tis the CP.”
Mutt put away the staff, “Let’s get agoin’. Don't want to be
late.” He chuckled then started walking to the tent Kari had pointed
out.
I stood almost rooted to the spot I had landed, “Thank you Kari,
but I would not have gotten lost.” I bowed my head again, “KJ, I'm sorry. I did
not know...”
I suddenly sensed movement at my side. Moving with lightning
speed I drew my swords from my back and blocked the attack coming from my side.
“I thought that the fighting was over.”
I kicked the legs out from under my attacker and knelt to lay my
swords across his neck after he fell. My lips lifted in a snarl, “Clan here.
NOW!” The entire clan appeared with their weapons
drawn.
Someone stepped into my line of vision and KJ’s scent stirred
the air. I looked up to see KJ looming over me with his sword
drawn.
of Insanity to add two Vampires to the Clan. But it was finally finished and I
could return to KJ’s side. Does he miss me as much as I miss him? I wondered as I prepared to teleport back to where I last saw him.
As soon as I appeared in the clearing I immediately knew he wasn’t there
but I had to try, “KJ?”
Mutt and Kari walked out of the woods. It was those two and no
one else.
Mutt looked at me soberly, “He had to take care of things on
Crucible. Something went wrong Miss Head Honcho lady. When he left he took a
company of soldiers with him then he bumped that company up to a regiment then
that regiment up to a division. What ever happened he didn't want it to get to
as he said ‘The most intimate place of my life.’ Messengers say the battle that
took place was bloody. They say Head Boss man had to become Nightmare. It’s over
now. He's involved in the clean up along with most of the Council and Tribunal.
He told me to tell you he was sorry he couldn't be here when you came. If you
want to see him right now I can take you to him Miss Head Honcho Lady. But I
don't know what state he's in. They Say the Currooks and Cragnors along with
Blood Angels were involved. Those three are a nasty combo. They say the line was
barely held.”
Kari watched me sadly then looked over at Mutt, “We should take
‘er to ‘im Mutt.”
“We should Widow. Come with us and if you have questions we'll
answer them along the way. I need to check on my wife and kids Miss Head Honcho
lady.” They both turned and started walking into the forest. Mutt called over
his shoulder, “You comin’?”
I followed the two wraith-like and said with a voice barely
above a whisper, “Stop calling me that. If you want to call me something then
call me by my name. ...He had to call on his Nightmare side? The fight must not
have been going well...” I followed them farther but stayed
silent.
Mutt answered me without looking back, “No ma'am It must not
have.”
Kari’s voice revealed her impatience when she next spoke, “This
is takin’ too long, e must reach em quickly. Open a
rift.”
“He'd kill me you know.”
“No e won't.”
Mutt looked back at me to see me walking with my head hung,
“This is not your fault. This has gone on for nearly a decade. 6 years he’s
fought without takin’ a break. Six years.... He's warred against hisself. No
quarter and no surrender. This was goin’ on long before anyone knew and long
before you. Don’ take me wrong you’re the best thing that has gotten to him.
Ever. No lie. No joke."
Kari stopped walking and turned to face me. With a gentle voice
that didn’t suit her personality she continued what Mutt had been trying to say,
“Don’ think at ye had enathin’ to do wit this. E ‘ave never seen im happier in
all ar days in knoin im. Never ‘as he smiled as much as he does
now.”
I nodded then looked up, “Does he really smile more
now?”
Kari nodded slightly.
Mutt took a staff from the sling on his back and made a slicing
motion through the air in front of him like he was trying to cut it. A slit of
darkness wide enough to fit through appeared as he drew the staff a way, “That,
Allacia, is a rift. Kari lead her through, we don't want KJ’s girl to get lost.
I'll keep the rear.”
Kari walked over to me and took my hand firmly then pulled me
through the rift and into a whole new world, “Welcome to Crucible. See owt ere,
‘tis the CP.”
Mutt put away the staff, “Let’s get agoin’. Don't want to be
late.” He chuckled then started walking to the tent Kari had pointed
out.
I stood almost rooted to the spot I had landed, “Thank you Kari,
but I would not have gotten lost.” I bowed my head again, “KJ, I'm sorry. I did
not know...”
I suddenly sensed movement at my side. Moving with lightning
speed I drew my swords from my back and blocked the attack coming from my side.
“I thought that the fighting was over.”
I kicked the legs out from under my attacker and knelt to lay my
swords across his neck after he fell. My lips lifted in a snarl, “Clan here.
NOW!” The entire clan appeared with their weapons
drawn.
Someone stepped into my line of vision and KJ’s scent stirred
the air. I looked up to see KJ looming over me with his sword
drawn.