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Tales Of Morveria: The Restless Priestess

A Sabaarii's Search for Happiness and Meaning Awakens the Darkness of Her Past.

By Mantrid Brizon

Part Three: Fears

Opening her eyes, Nailah's sapphire orbs turn toward the sleeping human. She grins from cheek to cheek as she lay beside him in her bed. Though it was only built for one person, they managed to fit; she lay partially over him, tucked beneath his arm with one of her legs in between his and one of her womanly mounds smooshed against his chest. He sleeps so peacefully, so confidently, lying on his back with an arm around her as if this were their marital bed. Considering their carnal passion, it might as well be.

Unable to help herself, Nailah leans closer and nuzzles her lover's face with her somewhat blocky, lizard-like snout. Brevin stirs, softly groaning as he turns his head. She kisses his lips so softly, only for him to finally awaken.

“Good morning." She coos, her claws running in circles as her fingers dance upon his bare chest.

“Good morning, Nailah."

“How [do] you feel?" She asks, batting her eyelashes as she nuzzles him once more.

“Very relaxed." His smile widens.

“Hehe! I, also!" She chirps and nods. “I feel very good, now! That was wonderful!"

“That was... Unexpected." His expression changes.

“But not bad?!" She pushes herself up, visibly concerned.

“No..." He slowly sits up beside her. “I just didn't imagine this happening this way."

“You imagined it before?!"

“... Yes." His cheeks flush.

Nailah cannot help but be flattered that the human artisan had fantasized about her! What if they had the same fantasy at the same time?! She leans in and kisses him again and again, her savage beast thoroughly satisfied. However, as the sunlight trickles in, she can feel the warmth on her smooth, glossy hide. Her ears twitch and she turns her head. Her eyes grow wide at the horrifying realization.

“Oh, no..."

“What?" Brevin's face shows concern.

“Oh, no!" Nailah whimpers.

“What's wrong?!"

Nailah doesn't know where to begin. First, she looks to Brevin's flaccid manhood, the blood of her innocence mixed with his seed and her juices, all three of which are encrusted on both of their genitals. A reddish-brown spot with specks of off-white stain her bedsheets, which she is not responsible for cleaning. Brevin did not remove himself, and after giving her several orgasms he flooded her womanhood with what felt like a very thick and potent seed. She already left his seed inside of her overnight; that cannot be treated with neberum, but even if it could, there isn't any in the temple.

As if that wasn't enough, she can hear voices of others roaming the halls; she'd failed to awaken the ladies and now they rise on their own, with Brevin still in her room! She turns to her lover with fear in her eyes, which begin to water with her tears. Upon seeing this, Brevin seems to finally grasp the seriousness of the situation. He takes her into his arms, squeezes her tightly and softly shushes her, just as she begins to whimper.

“There, there... It'll be alright."

“How?" She quietly asks whilst sniffling.

“Is there water in that pitcher near the windowsill?"

“Yes."

“Use it and a sheet to wash yourself as best you can. I'll go home and return with supplies to clean your bedsheets. We need to wait for an opportunity, then you can help me slip away."

“Will I see you again?" She asks, clinging to him like a frightened child.

“What?! Of course!" He replies in shock. “Why wouldn't you?!"

“Even after you finish [your] work?"

“Oh..."

His brief silence pains the Sabaarii, who had succumbed to her feminine urges and surrendered her virginity to him. Was that a mistake? Is he not interested in being her life-mate?! Her body begins to tremor as she awaits his response. Brevin is surprisingly gentle, petting her back and softly kissing her neck and cheek.

“When I'm finished, they won't want me here, but we will find a way to be together. I just need time to think. Trust me."

“Alright... I [will] trust you... I [will] help you escape." She replies, her mind now at ease.

“You make it sound like this temple is a prison." He chuckles.

Nailah doesn't laugh. She gets out of bed and does as Brevin suggested, wiping her body with drinking water from a pitcher, which she first perfumes with a tiny bottle. It had only a few drops, but thankfully it's enough. As she washes herself, Brevin hides the stained bedsheets with a heavy blanket from her nightstand. It's out of place in the summer months but few venture into her bedchamber, so at a glance it shouldn't appear unusual. In order to mask his escape, Nailah also hastily washes her lover's body. Even touching him in a benign way begins to reawaken her primal woman.

The voices in the halls, however, keep the beast contained. Fear of exposure and punishment is more than enough to keep the Sabaarii civilized. Using her superior senses, she helps him reach a window, which Brevin promptly climbs out of. They're forced to wait for a moment while one of the Unfettered patrols the rear courtyard. After making his way down, she watches and anxiously nibbles on her claws as he dives into bushes growing beside the outer wall. They stop rustling just before the guard returns.

Moments pass, and the guard begins another round. She focuses on the bushes to see if Brevin is still hiding within them or if he'd managed to slip away, perhaps through a small crack or hole in the outer wall. What if that could be a means of escape, to flee to Brevin's home beyond the temple walls?! Suddenly, a hand grabs the side of her dress and tugs.

“Ahh!"

Nailah whirls around, only to find several ladies standing behind her. A pre-teen Vostii of the fox-kin quickly wraps her arms around the barely six-year-old child of the bear-kin, who'd tugged at the Sabaarii's garment. Naesala, who stands with the trio, jumps back. She's still fearful of her elder, shaken by the rough manner in which Nailah had treated her the previous day.

“You scared me!" Nailah breathes heavily, placing a hand over her chest.

“You [did] not hear us?!" The fox girl asks, furling her brow and cocking her head.

“No... I was thinking." Nailah softly replies.

The Sabaarii acolyte glances over her shoulder and sees Brevin scaling the outer wall, emerging from the top of the bushes like a squirrel. He straddles the wall for a moment and waves to her. She lifts her hand from her chest but keeps it still, so as not to alert the girls, then Brevin rolls and jumps down, making his grand escape.

“[Are] you ill?" The little bear girl asks in a squeaky voice.

“You [did] not wake us!" The fox girl adds.

“Sorry, I... I slept late."

“You have trouble sleeping?" Naesala sheepishly asks.

“Yes..." Nailah's lips curl into a little grin. “Come, ladies. Who wants breakfast?" She turns to them.

“Yay!" The little bear exclaims, jumping for joy.

Nailah carries out her tasks as she should've, being only a few hours late to start the day. To her surprise, the other ladies of the beast folk either cannot discern the scent of Brevin on her hastily washed skin or they simply don't say anything. By the time the work crew arrives, it's as if nothing unusual had happened. However, upon seeing Brevin, Nailah feels a change. She's not who she was before. It isn't simply the loss of her virginity, though that in and of itself has left her womanhood feeling changed. She's sore, but in a good way.

Something about the mere presence of her lover makes her swoon. She feels a connection with him, a bond that began to form sometime between him penetrating her loins and giving her the first orgasm of her life. By the time he'd finished, depositing his copious seed inside of her, she could feel a warmth in her chest at the mere sight of him. Is this love? Is it love when you cannot fathom being with someone other than your partner, or even living without your partner beside you?

Whatever the new sensation is, it's infectious and grows increasingly worse as the day goes by. She finds the time to visit Brevin, who promptly takes her into his arms and hugs and kisses her. This only stokes the flames within her heart. To her delight, Brevin kept his word. Not only does he have a substance that can remove the stains from her sheets, before they're washed in two days, but he also gathered dried neberum, a small boiling pot, and even included a sheet of instructions.

Her inability to read will not prevent its usefulness, as he drew her pictures on another piece of parchment. Brevin's freeform drawings are quite pleasing to the eyes! Her lover is more talented than he led her to believe. He gives her a few more kisses and then returns to his work, allowing her to slip into her bedchamber and brew the tea which prevents pregnancy. Nailah reads the instructions and her heart sinks. It's clear that she's meant to use it right away, not many hours afterward. Hopefully, once isn't enough.

She brews the tea, despite knowing it will no longer serve its purpose, and cleans her bed sheets while she waits. She finds a few of his hairs on her pillow and begrudgingly throws them out the window, only to look for any more signs of her human lover. Just as she's removed every trace of Brevin from her bedchamber, the tea is ready. She brings the pot with the self-contained coal fire to her nose and gives it a whiff. Her snout crinkles and she winces. She hesitates to continue, but she's curious; she'll need to do this the next time, if she doesn't want to become pregnant! With a nervous grimace, she begrudgingly takes a sip of the tea.

“Bleh!" She immediately sticks out her tongue. “It [is] very bitter! How [is] having babies worse than this?!" She thinks to herself.

After taking a moment to work up the nerve, she gulps down the bitter concoction as fast as she can and rinses the tiny tea pot with water to mask the smell. She then stashes the tea pot and dried neberum caps in her bed chamber, hiding them behind her winter blanket, which she packs into her nightstand. When all is said and done, she carries out her duties with none the wiser. That night, Nailah falls asleep quickly and sleeps rather well. Her dreams are not sensual nor are they grotesque. It seems that Brevin has given her a peace that she otherwise couldn't have on her own. The only thought that keeps crossing her mind is when will they be able to do it again...

Nailah needn't wait long for an answer, as she and Brevin retreat to her bedchamber only two days after their first encounter. Now readily prepared, they take their time and engage in more methodical and skillful lovemaking. Brevin even introduces new positions, though she isn't sure how much she enjoys being on her hands and knees, facing away from her lover. She longs to look him in the eyes and kiss him as they make love, which they do with increasing regularity. Brevin routinely spends nights in her bed chamber, fleeing just before or at the crack of dawn.

For the next two months, Brevin and the other workmen repair the temple. The ladies become used to having the men around, and though some of the older girls prove to be troublesome, invading the men's workspaces and being repeatedly caught spying on them as they visit their designated outhouse, there are very few incidents worth noting. In fact, the visits seem to help the ladies socialize with males. Avarisha's pestering is rewarded when Aton's father, the man she'd followed for many weeks, finally brings his son with him to work.

The two children become instantly entranced, chattering away for many hours to the relief of Aton's father. Several other men do the same, bringing their young sons with them to distract the ladies while they hastily finish their work. Tavisha is less than pleased, but with watchful eyes on the girls, she's confident that no carnal acts are taking place within the temple walls. However, as the time passes and the temple is restored, Nailah's anxiety gradually returns. With every passing day, the temple looks new. Soon, the workmen will be gone.

As she lay in bed, a warm spot where Brevin had just been, she wonders what'll happen when he has no excuse for being on temple grounds? Will she see him again? Will he insist upon claiming her? That could mean surrendering her place in the clergy, and for the first time since she can remember, the thought of abandoning the temple doesn't bother her. As she rolls over to sleep, her thoughts persist and her heart aches. Despite the exhaustion from their passionate lovemaking, it's still a struggle to sleep. Somehow, she manages to fall into a deep slumber.

“Zdes, reb'yos. Eto vei'ya."

Hearing the strange words, a young Nailah lifts her head. Hands reach into the wooden crib where she lay, picking her up by the armpits and pulling her close to the chest. The adult female Sabaarii of the water-kin moves across the room. It's a fully furnished house, with a table, chairs and multiple rooms of varying use and decor. Nailah's big, sapphire eyes scan the darkness around her, her trembling hands clinging to the woman's arms. The woman moves along the sandstone streets, toward a strange structure in the distance. The amber glow of torches illuminate the many sandstone houses, which appear to be carved from solid rock.

Many men and women, all of them Sabaarii, turn and watch. A sudden roar in the distance startles everyone. Men spring up, seemingly from the shadows! Human men! Their armor and weapons glisten in the light of the twin moons. A battle ensues, the Sabaarii fighting desperately for their very survival. Terrified, the woman who cradles Nailah begins to sprint. She dodges combatants and leaps over a felled warrior, slipping on the blood which runs across the stone street like water!

She barrels down the steps of the strange structure, partially subterranean, and stops as a muscular Sabaarii male feeds a growing fire. It's a very large fire, in a central pit. A Sabaarii female stands nearby. She's an older Sabaarii of the water-kin, white and with streaks of red in her smooth, glossy flesh. Her garments are strange; primitive but ornate, and clearly meant to show her social standing. The older female barks incoherent words at the male who turns to her, nods and collects a weapon. She turns to the woman who carries Nailah.

“O'dai tii reb'yos!" She commands.

The younger female passes Nailah to the older female before promptly fleeing. Just as she reaches the top of the steps, Nailah jolts from the sound her bloodcurdling scream. Claiming the child, the older Sabaarii female motions with her head. The muscular male raises his proto sword, made of a flat wooden club with shards of stone around the edges. He dashes up the steps to meet those who would slay them for seemingly no reason.

“U'va Yasheriit!" He roars, racing into the night.

“Yasheriit na ot'sa'na zhaer'va! Mii'ya chiis nazh av'ogai!" The older female shouts, clinging to Nailah's little body.

“What barbarians!" A human shouts.

“Put the sword in the lot of them!" Another roars.

“Na! Mii'ya do'zhei vret nazh reb'yos za nazh av'ogai!" The Sabaarii woman implores, losing her grip on Nailah.

Nailah is overcome with fear. She begins to struggle and kicks the female in the stomach, her toe-claws gouging the woman's flesh. Falling to the ground, Nailah scurries away. Her little hands grab the legs of the wicker stool as she hides beneath it. Looking back, she sees the woman who held her. She turns to Nailah and extends a clawed hand, a look of anger in her sapphire eyes. Suddenly, an arrow flies down the stairwell and embeds itself in her neck! The blood spurts out of her wound as she reaches for the shaft of the arrow, creating an arc of crimson as long as a person is tall. A thud draws her attention. A male Sabaarii lies dead nearby.

Bolting upright, Nailah's chest heaves. That was the first time in months that she'd had another nightmare. Why did it return?! Has Brevin not brought her inner peace?! She reaches across her chest and grabs hold of her bicep, only to glance at her clawed hand and notice something startling. Her colors are very similar to the younger female in her dream. Who was she, who lifted her from the wooden crib and took her to the strange place? As Nailah looks closer and recalls her dream, she realizes something startling. Their colors are not merely similar but identical...

“Mother?" She whispers to herself, her eyes growing wide.

Shaking her head, the Sabaarii reminds herself that these are merely nightmares, concoctions of a troubled mind. As her mind wanders, she climbs out of bed and begins her morning routine. She cannot help but notice that the nightmares are following a distinct pattern; the more anxiety she feels, the greater her fears and pain, the more frequently the bad dreams appear. Hopefully, she can spend another night with her lover. Brevin always makes her feel good, physically, emotionally and even spiritually.

Just as she'd hoped, Brevin stows away when the other workers make their way home. A poor head count makes it relatively easy for him to remain unnoticed. As they've done many times before, Nailah bites onto her pillow and clings to the bedsheets as she whimpers and wails through multiple orgasms. Brevin is quite a lover! Once he's also finished, spilling his seed inside of her, as he should, the pair relax. They lay on their sides, her back and buttocks against his chest and groin. Her thick but tapering tail hangs over his side while her fingertips and claws massage and rake the sweaty flesh of his forearms.

Though she tries, the Sabaarii cannot ignore the heaviness in her heart. Even the passion she shares with her beloved human mate cannot make it disappear, not on this night. With a nervous gulp, she turns her head and peers over her shoulder, briefly staring at her lover's face. He appears to sleep quite peacefully, his arm around her waist as he holds her close. What a lovely feeling this is. She hates to ruin it, but she simply must know.

“Brevin... Brevin." She first whispers and then speaks softly.

“Hmm?" He slowly opens his eyes.

“Were you sleeping?"

“I'm sorry. I couldn't help myself. You're so comforting."

“Aww! ... Brevin... I hate to trouble you, but I must ask..."

“Ask what?" He lifts his head, a look of concern on his face.

“What does [the] future hold for us?"

“I've told you before, not to worry." He speaks warmly and with a smile, a hand reaching out and gently caressing her cheek. “I have a plan."

“I wish to hear [it]. I want to know this [is] not trivial, that this [is] real. I want [a] future. I want [a] life. I want [a] life with you. I [did] not give my innocence only to be forgotten."

“You won't be." He insists. “I'll be honest with you... I... I don't have a plan, but the foundation of a plan. I have an idea, but I'm not sure how to proceed. I know for certain that I won't abandon what we have. I won't walk away from you. I won't deny either of us a future."

Hearing these words eases her mind, but only slightly. The fact that the man she hopes to claim as a life-mate is stumbling in the dark as much as she is; it isn't a very comforting thought!

“Besides... You shouldn't be worrying about this. There are so many more important things to be concerned with. I'm sure you pray about those, already."

“What things?" She asks, rolling over to face him.

Brevin blinks and his eyes grow wide.

“They... They don't tell you?!"

“Tell me what?" She cocks her head and furls her brow.

“..."

The young man can only stare, flabbergasted by the secrecy of the temple.

“Brevin?"

“I'm sorry... I simply assumed you knew. They say you pray to 'The One' for our troubles."

“We pray." Nailah nods.

“Obviously in generalities... Well... At the moment, our town is routinely attacked by raiders. We struggle to maintain the guards because of the dangers, mostly due to a poor economy. Some are rebels, Iliumites and their supporters." He begins.

“Who?"

“Iliumites... Uhm, alright... Our kingdom, the Kingdom of Navarda, has been against the Kingdom of the Ilium Rose and their people, the Iliumites, for decades. Things were calm for a long time, but recently, tensions have reignited. Fighting has resumed and it's worse than ever before, or so I've been told. There's a war going on, in the border towns."

“What?!" She gasps, her eyes wide with shock.

“Yes. Skirmishes have occurred between Navardian and Iliumite forces, but nowhere near here. We mostly deal with the rebels and greedy raiders... And then recently, we've been afflicted by a strange plague. So far, it only afflicts the children who have yet to begin the change." He continues.

“Oh, no!"

She rolls over to face him and takes his hands into hers. She's eager to give him her undivided attention. As his mate, she feels compelled to submit, to give comfort to the male who must be the leader of their burgeoning family unit. He weaves their fingers together and nuzzles her snout, showing her the affection she's grown accustomed to.

“So, as you see, Nailah, despite our troubles they're nothing compared to everything else currently transpiring in the world. Though I'm an artisan, I spend much of my time doing thoughtless and menial work. I repair sections of the town's walls with mortar and stone. I-"

“[Are] you safe, working outside?!" She cannot help but interrupt.

“Yes, my love." He smiles, wrapping his arms around her naked body and giving her a tender squeeze. “They ensure our safety as we work beyond the walls. My work on the temple was as creative as I've been this past year! I was so happy to be creating something beautiful, even if it was not my design... And then I met you... Someone even more beautiful."

Nailah's cheeks flush and her heart flutters. What a flatterer he is! Every day she is more convinced that Brevin is the man to grow old with. Her long, lizard-like tail begins to flop atop the bed, a dance of bestial pleasure that she cannot hide. He chuckles, kisses her and holds her close, only for a sternness to enter his voice.

“Perhaps now my lack of a plan makes more sense to you?"

“Yes. I understand. Thank you for telling me." Nailah murmurs.

Though it eases her mind to know that Brevin is indeed serious about claiming her, despite his lack of a proper plan, the fact that the horrors of the world have been kept from her and the others within the temple is beyond troubling. Why doesn't Tavisha tell them these things? If they knew the dangers of the world, Nailah and the many ladies of the temple could beseech The One, invoking their Creator's holy name. Why does Tavisha keep so many secrets? Why doesn't she seem capable of trusting her wards? Is it because they're of the beast folk? Does she believe she's protecting them?

Brevin promptly distracts her; he nuzzles her snout and kisses her cheek, diverting her attention away from her dark thoughts. After a moment of passion, the lovers' lips part ways and Brevin is forced to dress himself while Nailah prepares her contraceptive tea of neberum in a now all too familiar routine. Before leaving, however, Brevin stops and turns to her.

“Nailah..."

“Yes?"

“I'll make a pledge to you, here and now... I don't yet know how, but somehow, we will be together, even after the work on the temple is completed."

“Alright." She softly replies, her lips curling into a bashful grin.

From his posture, expression, and the tone of his voice, she instinctively knows that he's sincere. A week passes and the work is nearly finished. More than half of the crew no longer return to the temple, and many of the ladies, now so comfortable with the men's presence, show startling levels of anxiety. Avarisha, once a curious and rambunctious child, is unusually melancholy and no longer shows interest in the things that once amused and excited her. She routinely looks toward the fence, gazing at it from every passing window and whimpers as often as she breathes.

“Are you alright?"

“Yes..." Avarisha murmurs.

“[Do] you wish to speak? I will not share." Nailah quietly assures the pre-teen girl.

“I..." She sighs. “I miss Aton."

Unable to truly comfort her, Nailah can only embrace the lemur girl and whisper that it will be alright. She hates lying to the child, but all this time sneaking around with Brevin has made it much easier. She's grown comfortable in the cloak of deceit. As Nailah rises to her feet, she turns to see Tavisha standing within arm's reach. It's obvious that she overheard them; the look on her face is telling. Nailah can only describe it as a mixture of apprehension and displeasure, as if Avarisha were her own daughter and had returned home with a most unsavory man.

“Nailah, may we speak?"

“Yes." Nailah bows her head.

“Can you find your way to your class, Avarisha?"

“Yes, ma'am."

Tavisha motions with her hand, kindly shooing the child away. She then leads Nailah to her office and instructs her to sit, only to close the door behind her. It's not often that Tavisha requests to speak to her. Usually, it's Nailah who intrudes, bringing attention to problems and increasing the frustration of her vicar. Has Tavisha uncovered her secret?! Does she know about her and Brevin, and all of the passionate sex they've had in her bedchamber?! Tavisha takes a seat in her chair, staring daggers at Nailah from her desk. She lets out a heavy sigh, clasps her hands together, rests them atop the desk as she hangs her head.

“I'd like to remind you of a previous talk we had..."

“About?"

“Avarisha... She and many other young ladies have obviously grown attached to our guests. I feared this would happen, especially when some of them brought their young sons along. I never appreciated the idea..."

“What idea?"

“The foreman pointed out the delays..." Tavisha begins, lifting her head and slumping back in her chair. “I was a fool to think I could hide them while they worked, but I didn't realize how... Curious they'd become... He suggested a solution, to have his men bring their sons to 'distract' the ladies. I told him he was not allowed to do such a thing! Clearly, he disobeyed me..."

“It helped them finish [their] work. [The] repairs were made swiftly, and [the] ladies enjoyed [the] boys company." Nailah replies.

“They enjoyed it too much!" Tavisha glares.

“They finish [their] work and leave. It [is] what you wanted. I [do] not understand your fear." Nailah replies, eager to hear her vicar's response.

“No... You wouldn't..." Tavisha grumbles and leans against her desk. “For reasons I will not explain, it's very important that the girls forget about men as quickly as pos-... What's this?"

Sitting upright, Tavisha collects a letter protruding from beneath a stone paperweight.

“Unfettered brought you [the] letter this morning."

“And no one told me?!"

“I did. You forgot." Nailah replies, sighing and rolling her eyes.

“Oh..." Tavisha's cheeks flush.

Breaking the plain wax seal, the vicar opens the letter and begins to read. As her eyes scan the parchment, they widen and her mouth drops.

“No... No, no, no, no, no!"

“Tavisha?"

The human woman lowers the letter and turns her attention toward the Sabaarii, who sits patiently in the chair on the opposite side of her desk. She looks between the letter and her acolyte, her eyes shifting back and forth several times. Nailah can see the dichotomy within her. It's clear that she doesn't wish to reveal what troubles her, but she's at a crossroads; lying will no longer serve her, and she knows it. Clearly, Nailah isn't the only deceitful one in the temple.

“There are things, Nailah... Things that I, for the sake of you and the other ladies, have kept hidden..." Tavish begins, her voice soft and frail, even pitiful.

“What 'things'?"

Without answering her, Tavisha clears her throat, lifts the letter and begins to read it aloud.

“Vicar Tavisha Kozhl,

The sickness that is afflicting the children has spread beyond our control..."

Tavisha pauses and shifts her eyes, looking toward Nailah. She uses the skills she'd perfected over the past few months; she feigns surprise to Tavisha's satisfaction. It helps that she'd learned this fact only a week earlier.

“It has yet to target any adults, but now seems to greatly afflict children enduring the change. Pubescent children are flooding our halls and claiming every bed. We have noted, however, that the beast folk are not afflicted by this disease. We are no longer able to run the hospital in any capacity, not without aid. Please, if you could, send any acolyte and initiate girls capable of acting as nurse's aides. We will supervise them as best we can, but we must have more hands. They may return each night at dusk, when things often settle.

Sincerely,

Doctor Markon Vaizher."

Setting the letter aside, Tavisha once again returns her attention to Nailah.

“You want me to go? I know it [is] late, but I can take [a] group of ladies tomorrow."

“I don't know if that's a good idea..."

“... What?!" Nailah gasps. “[The] hospital needs our help! Children [are] very ill! The One loves children! Adonai gives life! How can you deny [their] request?!"

“Settle down, Nailah! ... I don't make this decision lightly. There are things I cannot and will not explain."

“You must!"

“What?!" Tavisha's eyebrows raise in surprise.

“The One adores children. We protect children above all, like Adonai. They ask us for help. If you turn your back to them, you sin. You spit on Adonai, our Creator, if you do not send help!"

Tavisha sits in stunned silence, as shocked as she is ashamed; she knows in her heart that Nailah speaks the truth. After a brief pause, Tavisha nods her head and agrees to help the hospital, though Nailah can tell that she does so reluctantly. The next day, at the crack of dawn, the Sabaarii prepares the young ladies of the temple, handpicking the initiates best suited for the task. All are at least twelve years of age, as they're deemed strong enough to experience whatever awaits them at the hospital.

The youngest are left to their studies, attended to by the now overworked human acolytes. Before they're allowed to leave, Tavisha instructs a pair of Unfettered on where to go and for how long. Ever the dutiful mercenaries, they accept their orders without hesitation, and will carry them out with equal zeal. As the ladies, who number two dozen, are preparing to leave, Tavisha presents a basket. Inside it are items rarely used by the clergy, except for very specific ceremonies.

“These are the hoods of mourning. You are all to wear them as you walk to and from the hospital..." She begins, approaching Nailah with a hood in her hands.

“[Do] you not fear [that] this will send [the] wrong message?!" Nailah asks, her brow furled and eyes wide as she watches her vicar tie the hood to the sewn in loops at the back of her dress.

“Remove them immediately upon entering the hospital and follow the doctors to the wards where you are needed. Do not leave unless instructed or escorted!" Tavisha continues, seemingly ignoring her question whilst pulling up Nailah's hood.

The other girls don't ask questions, reaching into the basket as an Unfettered walks by them. They attach the hoods, tying them to the loops on their dresses, then pull them up and over their heads. A thin but dense cord is sewn into the hem, around the opening, giving the hoods some rigidity. They're made of soft but heavy black fabric with ornate golden embroidering around the hem. The long hoods move past the face and act like blinders, exposing only the tips of their snouts. The girls with shorter snouts, like felines and bunnies, have their faces entirely concealed. None can see more than approximately forty or fifty degrees; it's a thin line of sight, directly in front of them.

“As the only acolyte of the beast folk, you're the leader, Nailah... Follow the Unfettered to the hospital and take charge once you're there. Please..." Tavisha speaks sternly but with a hint of worry.

“Yes, vicar..." Nailah coldly replies.

The Sabaarii cannot help herself. It becomes increasingly clear that their vicar doesn't trust them and treats them all like petulant children. The frustration mounts, and it's more and more difficult to hide these feelings. The thought of abandoning the temple for a life with Brevin becomes increasingly powerful. For the first time since she can recall, Nailah and the young ladies are led toward the front gate, which is often sealed except during services. The Unfettered keep their shields at the ready and swords in-hand as they march like puppets, leading them through the town.

The girls stare straight ahead, unable to do anything else, lest they stumble. The sounds and scents of the village and its inhabitants are quite overwhelming. For many, they're more afraid than they are curious, having been sheltered their entire lives. They walk in lockstep, eager to reach the hospital to fulfill their duties. What will be asked of them? How many new faces will they see? Though they walk along a designated path, likely chosen by Tavisha for its relative seclusion, the temple maidens still attract attention. Hearing several voices, Nailah lifts her head and her hood slips back, expanding her line of sight.

A beast woman stands a short distance away, her vibrant fur attracting Nailah's eyes. Could it be?! Yralissa! Her eyes grow wide as she looks toward the Korutan of the zebra-kin, a woman who was once her closest friend. Walking before her is man, young and attractive. This must be Giles, the baker's son. Giles appears to be roughly the same height as Brevin, who is taller than Nailah. Yralissa, however, has grown considerably. It isn't surprising, as she was barely a teenager when she disappeared from the temple. She was hardly a woman then. Now, however, she stands more than a head taller than her human companion; his face is roughly level with the center of her breasts.

Yralissa's womanly mounds are mountainous, easily putting Nailah's breasts to shame. Her figure has filled out, from a sleek young lady to a proper woman with obvious curves. Though her waist is slender, her broad hips would make it easy for her to have many children. She wears the clothes of a common woman, like the humans around her. They cling to her voluptuous form like a second skin. A leather collar wraps around her neck, a metal tag glinting in the sunlight. Hooked to her collar is a matching leash. It has much slack. The end of the leash dangles loosely in Giles' hand, and it's clear that Yralissa follows him not because he holds the leash but because she wishes to do so.

The zebra woman appears quite content with her life. Upon turning her head in shock, Nailah reveals her face. Yralissa and her human partner have already stopped their journey to turn and watch the precession of hooded initiates and the acolyte who leads them. Yralissa smiles, lifts a large hand and waves, recognizing her friend. Nailah waves back but continues her slow and methodical march. Nailah can hear Giles as he points out their recognition, questioning Yralissa. It isn't the inquiry of a suspicious or jealous man, or the prodding of a short-tempered master, but the curiosity of a kind and compassionate partner eager to learn about his mate's past.

She's honest and forthright, admitting to an old friendship with the hooded acolyte. After a brief back-and-forth, Giles and Yralissa share a kiss. Being more than a head taller than her lover, the zebra woman must lean forward to meet him. From their passion alone, Nailah can tell that they are very much in love. Her desire to spend her life with Brevin, to live as Yralissa does, grows even stronger. She returns her attention toward the Unfettered, and after a modest march, they finally arrive at the hospital.

A towering structure of stone and mortar, the grey walls are covered in vines, which curl around the square edges of the obviously outdated building. It appears almost ancient, and suddenly Nailah and the ladies who follow her are grateful to stay in a building as luxurious as their temple. Upon entering the large foyer, they pull back their hoods. An elderly man stands with many women around him. They all wear similar gowns of white and faded blue, ranging in age from quite young to perhaps as old as their fifties.

From their stiffened posture and the looks on their faces, it's clear that they're more unnerved than they are grateful. Perhaps it's because their help is needed?

“Why are you wearing hoods of mourning?! There are no dead here, and hopefully there won't be!" The elderly doctor begins.

“Vicar Tavisha commanded we wear them. I [am] acolyte Nailah." She begins, bowing her head respectfully.

“Doctor Markon Vaizher... Please, if you could, remove those hoods. I do not wish to frighten the children with thoughts of death."

Nailah nods. She'd thought the very same, still perplexed by Tavisha's demands. Following her lead, the ladies of the temple remove their hoods and place them into a basket as an elderly nurse passes by.

“I cannot believe Tavisha would make you wear these through the streets. So many have their children here; this will terrify them. She will receive a strongly worded letter in the future!" The doctor grumbles. “Please, follow me."

The elderly nurse sets the basket of hoods beside the front doors while Doctor Vaizher leads Nailah and the young ladies through the halls. He takes them to the children's ward, briefly explaining the situation.

“We're so thankful that The Order sent some of their initiates. We've been overwhelmed for nearly a month. When the sickness began, it was only the young children. They suffered from a cough and minor rashes on the face, neck and underarms. Recently, however, it's begun to afflict the older children, those who've begun puberty. The cough now reveals a fluid buildup in the lungs, and the rashes have become a field of small, open sores."

“That [is] awful!" A girl remarks.

“[The] poor children." Another whimpers.

“We [will] do all [that] we can." Nailah promises.

They approach the double doors to the children's ward. Inside, the girls can hear the crying and whimpering, as well as the heart wrenching pleas of frightened children as they call to their parents.

“Before we enter, I wish to apologize..." Doctor Vaizher turns toward the group.

“Apologize?" Nailah furls her brow.

“Yes... I am very sorry for what you will witness. We wouldn't have asked if it wasn't so urgent."

Opening the doors reveals many scores of beds, perhaps over a hundred. Each has a child writhing in agony. Their little bodies reek of their infection, and though briefly paralyzed by the sights and smells, the ladies of the temple are eager to help. They pair with human nurses and begin their work, changing bandages and speaking with the children, trying to keep them calm. As she witnesses the horrors of the world beyond the temple, Nailah begins to comprehend Brevin's behavior, which until that point she might've called 'disinterest,' or at the very least, absentmindedness.

Doctor Vaizher moves from bed to bed, treating the worst among them. These are the children who've nearly reached adulthood, fifteen to seventeen-year-olds who would otherwise be working in the fields with their parents or apprenticing with a tradesman. Nailah supervises the initiates, though they need little instruction. Doctor Vaizher points out several children whose lungs are so full of fluid that they may not last the night. He must perform a dangerous and risky surgery to drain the fluid so they can breathe.

Once he disappears, it's Nailah, her initiates and the nurses who're left with the children. Suddenly, a commotion outside calls for the attention of several senior nurses. Little by little, the humans gradually leave the children's ward, until only a single human nurse remains. The young woman passes out bandages, medicines, ointments and cleansing water, which has been treated with minerals and herbs to aid in disinfecting wounds. By mid-afternoon, however, the supply runs out. She too leaves, in search of supplies.

Nailah watches her initiates, who are soon forced to do nothing more than sit and speak with the children, trying to keep them calm. Some are more skilled than others, but each girl tries her best. Several older children, previously pointed out by the doctor, begin to gasps and writhe. It's clear that they're losing the battle for life. Nailah looks for the nurse, but she has yet to return. Where is she? Where is the doctor and all of the other nurses?! She moves toward the door to wait for them, only for two older girls to approach.

“They [are] dying!" Avarisha whimpers.

“I know..." Nailah murmurs, peeking through a crack in the door. “I hope nurses return soon."

“We must act!" Another girl pleads.

“Please, Nailah. You [are the] acolyte. We [will] stay, but you go. Find [a] nurse and bring [them] back." Avarisha asks.

Looking at her wards, Nailah can see the agony in their eyes. They're trying so hard; it pains them to think that these innocent lives may be lost. With a heavy sigh, Nailah nods her head. She remembers her instructions but disobeys. What else is she to do?! With Avarisha temporarily in charge, Nailah slips through the doors to find the hallway completely empty. She cannot even hear a sign of life. It sends a chill running down her spine and to the tip of her tail. Fear sets in, and she yearns for Brevin to appear from the shadows to protect her.

Moving along the corridors, she calls out for the nurses and Doctor Vaizher. No one answers. Her toe-claws click on the wooden floor of the stone-built hospital. Dim light from the darkening sky pierces the blue glass windows, distorting it. The light illuminates many particles of dust, which give the hallways a vaguely foggy appearance. She looks toward a door, but being a beast woman, Nailah cannot read the sign. The squiggles are incomprehensible to her, and for a moment she wonders how the humans remember what they mean. A distant voice causes her ear to twitch.

“Doctor Vaizher? Where [did] you go? ... Hello?!"

The voice continues, but it doesn't answer her directly. As she moves closer to the source, she can make out several more voices, and distinct words. Though these voices sound as though they're coming from the same area, they don't appear to be communicating. Finding a large door with a bolt on the outside, Nailah looks toward the sign. Once again, she cannot decipher its meaning and there aren't any clues as to what lay beyond. Unsure of what else to do, and unwilling to leave the initiates alone for much longer, she swallows her fears and opens the door.

Stepping inside, she finds a room lined with beds. Atop these beds are men! Some are sitting, some lying down and curled like children, while others are held by straps of leather. Most ignore her presence, their eyes looking through her as if she wasn't even there. Entering the room, she watches them speaking to invisible beings, none of them aware of the reality of their world. One voice in particular catches her attention. She turns her head and finds a man seated on a stool, looking at a wall as if it had a view. There is no window, only stones.

“They're burning angels for war. Always searching for more. Seething, teething. What was all of it for?"

Something about this man seems strangely familiar.

“Excuse me. Do I know you?" Nailah slowly approaches the man. “... Sir?"

The man falls silent.

“I work for a living, soldier..." He mutters, still staring at the wall. “That's 'Sergeant Mills' to you..."

“Mills?" She furls her brow.

“Don't you know? They're burning angels for war. Always searching for more. Seething, teething. What was all of it for?" Sgt. Mills replies, turning his head and looking to her. “Hello, angel. How did you survive?"

Nailah gasps, shocked to find that the grizzled man, who's likely in his sixties, has a massive scar along one side of his face. It crosses over an eye, which is milky white from the damage of a blade.

“They're burning angels for war. Always searching for more. Seething, teething! What was all of it for?!"

Stepping back and away from the deranged old man, Nailah gasps as she bumps into someone. She whirls around and raises a clawed hand, only to quickly curl her fingers and hide her natural defenses.

“What are you doing here?!" An aging nurse demands.

“I [am] searching for help. We need supplies and assistance." Nailah replies.

“In here?!" The nurse appears quite shocked, leading Nailah back into the hallway.

“Where [is] 'here'?"

“Follow me..." The nurse says with a frustrated sigh. “This sign reads, 'Ward for the mentally ill.' These men are deeply disturbed. Those with the straps can be quite violent. You're lucky your presence didn't excite them. They can be a handful on a good day!"

“I [am] sorry." Nailah bows her head. “But we need supplies and assistance in [the] children's ward."

“I'll see what I can do." The nurse's voice softens as she closes and bolts the door.

“Where did [the] doctor go?" Nailah asks with more sternness.

“The town walls were attacked..." The nurse begins, speaking quietly, as though she were unsure if she should. “While trying to drain fluid from the lungs of several afflicted children, a few guards came in needing immediate treatment. Two had arrow wounds and another was stabbed by Iliumite sympathizers."

“Oh!" Nailah gasps. “But [the] children..."

“Things are becoming increasingly dangerous these days, and guards are hard to come by. Have you heard the word 'triage'?"

“No." Nailah shakes her head.

“We must prioritize. Able-bodied guards are more important right now... I'm sorry... Please, return to the children's ward. I'll send help when I can."

Nailah quiets herself and makes her way back. For as shocked and appalled as she is by the state of things, she cannot help but feel tremendous guilt. So much suffering in this world, and she was sheltered from all of it. Before she reaches the doors to the children's ward, Doctor Vaizher appears with several nurses carrying cases of supplies. He apologizes profusely as he opens the doors to the ward. There, they find many of the initiate girls standing around a bed. They're as silent as the grave, and for good reason.

Approaching the bed, Nailah, the doctor and the nurses witness a teenage girl staring lifeless at the ceiling, a putrid substance oozing from their mouth. Avarisha comforts two younger girls. Every beast girl stands with ears drooped, tails motionless and lips quivering. None have ever seen death so close before, nor were they witness to the icy hand claiming one so young and innocent. The memory of the child writhing and choking is forever burned into their memories.

The humans know what needs to be done and promptly redirect their attention. They steer them toward the living while a strong nurse and Doctor Vaizher wrap the bedsheets around the deceased child, carrying the bundle away. With the help of the doctor and nurses, they continue their work for several more hours, only to finally don their hoods and return to the temple. The girls are shaken but appear to be adapting. Though many shed tears, they regain their strength with startling speed; prayer and the determination to make a difference for the villagers of their town give them courage.

Upon returning to her own bed chamber, Nailah disrobes and prepares to climb into bed. As the events of the day race through her mind, however, she falls to her knees and cries. Perhaps she's been sheltered for too long? Perhaps she isn't prepared for the harsh realities of this life? All she wants is to run away, where Brevin can protect her and give her comfort. What are they going to do? The fear is overwhelming...