Steph's Fiction

"Mama! She's waking up!" A young, shrill voice pierced through the blackness.

"Shhh, dear," came a Vah Shir woman's voice. "She will be tired."

Kakari moved her wrist to shield her eyes from the bright lantern light. She was in a warm bed, and she felt wonderful. She could smell fresh bread.

Her eyes adjusted to see a tall woman in a house dress, with a kitten poised on her hip. A second young one was pulling on her tail. "Mama!" he wailed. Three other kittens were noisily chasing each other around the rug in the centre of the large room.

The woman watched her tenderly. "Kreethaw," called the woman. "She's awake."

A tall Vah Shir man entered the doorway adjacent to what Kakari guessed was the kitchen. His full plate armor clinked as he approached. His gate was unsteady, as if he had just woken up himself. Kakari's thoughts were still cloudy. Where was she? Who were these people?

"You," his voice was unreadable. He shook his head back and forth. "I don't know how it happened, but you got us out of the Hollowshade moor." He knelt at her bedside.

Suddenly it hit her. Kakari was choked. They were both alive! She killed this man, and here he was, thanking her for it! She couldn't speak.

"I understand what you did," the man continued. His eyes glimmered. "[i]The only way out of the Hollowshade Moor is death[/i]," he recited. "And, indeed, it was. I shall be eternally grateful to whatever power of King Raja that gave me a second chance to be with my family. And I shall also be thankful to you, Kakari, for committing the act you did." He stood.

His wife stepped forward. "Dear Kakari. You are welcome in our home for as long as you need to recover. I am forever indebted to you for how you helped my husband."

Kakari's eyes followed the scampering kittens as they rolled around and playfully bit each other's ears. "You have beautiful children," she said.

The woman smiled. "Aye, we're very proud. They're three weeks old."

Three weeks? Kakari glanced at Guard Kreethaw. "I thought that you were gone for far longer than that, Kreethaw."

He nodded. "Aye. By what magic I do not know, but it seems that time in the Hollowshade trap is frozen."

"We didn't even know that he was gone," his wife continued.

Interesting. That would definitely explain why her teacher didn't know about the curse. Kakari had to warn him, now, before any other trainees fell into the same trap.

"Thank you both!" Kakari untangled herself from the bedsheets and stood. "I must be on my way." She hurried towards the doorway. Before she left, she turned to face them both once more. "May Raja's hand guide you both, and your young." The couple nodded, smiles in their eyes.

Kakari sprinted her way out of the residential quarters towards the Registrar's office to find her mentor. He was usually seated just outside.

Kakari blasted full speed around the corner and hit a hard, solid obstacle. She barely regained her balance as she skidded in the dust, turning to face the dark object. ... Kenkaishin ShadowWalker...?

"You." He spoke urgently. "We need help, now. Come with me to the Freeport arena." He wasted no time, and turned to leave. A Halfling woman stood quietly next to him.

"Come, if you are allied with the Shadow Hands," she offered a hurried clarification. "One of your Vah Shir has been severely wounded. Kenkaishin is rounding up our forces to crush the culprit." She turned and hurried after Kenkaishin.

"But, I have to warn--" Kakari wanted to explain her odd experience with the Hollowshade curse, but Kenkaishin was already halfway down the street. The halfling woman offered one last inviting glance before hurrying into the shadows.

Kakari stole a glance at her mentor's usual spot. He wasn't there. Kakari barged into the Registrar's office. Also empty. Where was everyone? And, a Vah Shir had been attacked? Kakari's eyes flashed angrily.

She would join the Shadow Hands and defend her kin, then return to Shar Vahl to do something about the Hollowshade curse.

(Kakari, eighth season.)