[Mandraiga]

He prowled through the darkness. The scratching from claws over the stones on the ground was barely hearable.

'Finally... No more sunlight to dazzle me.'

This is the hour of the day he is completely awake.

Keeping a low profile, he moved on, fast, steadily, soundless.
Suddenly, he stopped, raising his head, whiping his tail back and forth. He looked around and bared his long, shiny teeth.

'I heard something... Or someone...'

Perking up his ears, he heard it again, clearly. Footsteps.

Quickly and nearly soundless he leaped behind some bushes, waiting for the pedestrian to come by.

[Kyarra]

Shin was at the steps to the Cathedral and examined the nearby vegetation. Totally absorbed in his brown leather book he didn't even notice, that he was about to enter the large building.
"Wonderful! I have to take some samples. Maybe I can take a whole plant home and put her in my green house!"

He padded backwards into the Cathedral and it has been a few minutes before he recognized the fact, that he no longer was outside. "Huh!" he rose his eyes and looked around. Inside the halls it was almost dark. Through the windows shined just enough light to be able to see something and don't run into the next wall. Shin could hear his own footsteps as an echo, or was there someone else? He stopped walking and pricked up his ears.

{1/1}

[Mandraiga]

The Slynx, nearly lying on the ground, held his breath as a quadruped passed him. Small, catlike, and with two tails.

'A Kuhna?'

He didn't dare to move as the creature approached the bushes he hid behind. But then the Kuhna headed for the Cathedral while, strangely, walking backwards. Now the Slynx became curious.

'Doesn't look dangerous at all. Maybe I'll go and play with this one.'

As the Kuhna turned away and looked around, the predator silently followed him.
Being totally focused on his "prey", he accidently stepped on a dry twig, making a crunching noise.

'Damn it!'

He quickly leaped away and pressed himself close to the old wall.

[Kyarra]

The little Kuhna nearly suffered a heart attack and grew stiff as he heard the cracking noise. There was someone following him, that was for sure! But was it a friend or a foe? Deep inside him Shin hoped, that it wasn't a beast of prey. He wouldn't be able to defend himself - he had no clue how to fight an opponent.

He slowly turned around to discover where the noise came from. One could easily hide in the dark corners around Shin. The sparsely light that shined through the stained glass windows was too faint to lighten the whole hall. Even the light that came through the crack of the door only lightened a small section inside the building. Everything around was dark and creepy. Shin shivered and he had to gather all his courage to say

"H.....h......helloooo?"

{2/2}

[Mandraiga]

The Slynx could kick himself.
'How could I be so careless? Now he most definitely knows I'm there... Doesn't matter then. Plan B.'

He silently moved along the wall till he was behind the trembling Kuhna. Then he stepped out of the shadow and sat down behind the quadruped, almost touching his reddish furred back.

'Good evening, small one.'

[Kyarra]

Shin's heart skipped a beat as a voice behind him began to speak. It sounded cold and calculating and the talker was definitely up to something. What did he call him? Small one? The other seemed to have a low opinion of him and Shin decided to be as careful as possible. He slowly turned around and looked into the glaring eyes of a Slynx. So at least it WAS a beast of prey which had followed him!
His heart dived. Was he going to be the next meal for the predator sitting in front of him?

Shin decided that he was definitely too young to die and wanted to clear things up, but all he was able to say was

"H.....h...."

He was so scared of the other that he finally lost his tongue.

Now I'm gonna die!


{3/3}

[Mandraiga]

'Hush! I will not hurt you...'
'For now.'

The Slynx rose his forepaw and looked at his claws, bored.

'I'm looking for something. I'd be outermost pleased if you'd help me finding it. If not...'
He showed his shining fangs as he smiled dismissive.

[Kyarra]

What? This beast of prey really excepted Shin to help him find his next victim? He must be joking! On the other hand Shin was relieved that it wasn't him, who was going to land on the Slynx's menu.
He slowly calmed down and finally had the guts to say something to the beast.

"What? I mean......well.....this is a joke, isn't it?"

Shin was still nervous in the presence of this predator. There was still the chance that the Slynx would change his mind, and Shin was an easy prey for sure.

{4/4}

[Mandraiga]

'A joke, you say? Do you see me laughing?'
The Slynx looked at the Kuhna, his face being inexpressive.
'In fact, I had dinner some minutes ago, so I'm not hungry. Not even a bit.'

He looked up at the heavily damaged ceiling. The scarce light of the moon, shining through a crack, got reflected in his eyes, making them gleam in an icy blue. The Slynx sighed and shook his head.

'I'm sorry if I scared you. You're free to leave if you want, I won't harm you. But don't expect me to defend you from the real predators outside the Cathedral.'

[Kyarra]

"The real predators?" Shin squeaked wide-eyed. "How can any predator outside these halls be more real than the one sitting right in front of me?" THIS question even surprised himself. Normally he wasn't that cheeky to others, especially not when they were dangerous, but he had the strange feeling that the Slynx was really serious about what he had said to him.

"So, if you don't want me to help you to get some food, then what is it what you want from me?"



{5/5}

[Mandraiga]

'I'm looking for something... Or someone, I'm not quite sure.'

Feeling uneasy, he shuffled his left forepaw on the dirty carpet on the floor.
'I thought it would be interesting to explore this place. But as I arrived, I noticed a strange smell, like wet fur. I also heard some kind of heavy machine moving when I got near the Cathedral... Whatever it was, I lost its trail as you came by.'
The Slynx nervously twitched his large ears.
'I was hoping you could help finding this... Being. In here are way too many places I can't reach, for example rooms with almost completely blocked doorways. I'm simply curious what this creature was, and if it is possible to get to know it.'

[Kyarra]

Shin eyed the Slynx suspiciously. He was looking for something? Was this beast of prey kidding him or was he just a weirdo? Shin couldn't put his finger on it. Something inside Shin told him to be careful, but on the other had his artlessness gained the upper hand. The Slynx had have his chance to hunt him down, why should he play with him this long?

"Yeah.....sure.....you want me to crawl through the small passages for you. Shin said ironically
"I dind't even know your name!"

He risked his neck with careless talk. This was the first time in his life that he was brave, and it felt good.


{6/6}

[Mandraiga]

The Slynx rose his right eyebrow as he noticed the reaction of the Kuhna.
'I see, you don't trust me. If I were you, me probably neither. But it's up to you, I won't force you to stay.'

Slowly, he moved a few steps away and jumped on top of a heap of rubble at the wall, trying to move the heavy stones.

'You don't know my name, you said. Guess this means you want to know it. If it still matters, it's Cir'nuah.'

[Kyarra]

"Cir'nuah, huh? My name is Shin!"

Shin omitted willfully to add the "nice to meet you" part, because the way they both met wasn't the nicest one. Although the Slynx wasn't the trustworthiest guy he had ever met, Shin was bursting with curiosity. What exactly was the beast looking for? He said something about wet fur and other stuff, but Shin couldn't get an idea of it. He made a few steps up to Cir'nuah.

"What are you doing there?"


{7/7}

[Mandraiga]

'What I am doing? Can't you see?'
Cir'nuah stopped and looked down at the Kuhna.
'I'm trying to get through here. I have no idea how big this machine-creature was. Maybe it's in there. But those rocks are way too heavy. If I only was larger... Maybe the size of a Battleheart. I would take this building apart, stone by stone.'
The Slynx laughed and continued his work.
'So, Shin... Why did you come here anyway, if I may ask? This place is not that much of a tourist attraction...'