[SpringsSong]

Lani's own steps seemed to become a bit more tentative now as she looked around, her eyes afraid suddenly.  "Zhoril?" She asked quietly, seeing the Trikuhna move closer to her.  "D-do you get the feeling that something's... well, that something or someone is going to just pounce out at us?" She asked, and then, her ears flattened against her skull.  "I sense an evil here..." She hissed quietly, her fur beginning to stand up on end.

{29}

[Kyrit]

Pounce out? He couldn't exactly do that. He'd lure them to his chambers, that way they could release him without knowing it. A smirk spread across his maw. Perfect... They were still heading the right way.

Zhoril's fur on the back of his neck was standing on end. "Y-Yeah... Think we should head back?" He didn't want a possibility of Lani getting hurt.

[SpringsSong]

Lani thought to agree for a moment, then, she shook her head.  "No... we should continue on.  I have never been one to run away from something." She said, looking around again.  She couldn smell another presence around, but she didn't know who, or what, it was yet...

{30}

[Kyrit]

Etzal let out a sigh. It was so boring... being locked away like this. Enough to make any kuhna mad truely. He was laying on a fallen statue now, tails flicking slowly back and forth, his wings folded behind him. One paw was crossed over the other, that one dangling down. "Bored... Won't someone come play with me?" He knew they were still heading his way, but he had doubts now.

Zhoril's ears lowered against his head. he knew he was still weak right now, and if anything attacked he wouldn't be much protection to Lani. Still, he continued on at her side. "I... Think I see the end of the passage up ahead.. Looks like a door."

[SpringsSong]

Lani nodded.  "It does indeed look like a door..." She said, her ears flattening against her skull.  "The last thing I need to have happen now is for Alana to appear out of nowhere..." She said, recalling her sweet little Spirit daughter.  "Well, shall we?" She asked, moving closer to the door.

{31}

[Kyrit]

Tick... tock... Tick... tock. Time slowly slid by. Zhoril ran a paw over the door and let out a small wince before falling over, steam seeming to radiate from him. The door had sent a rather intense blot of electricity through him, causing him to almost pass out.

Etzal's ears lowered against his head, hearing the buzz of electricity. This had happened so many times before... So many had passed through here.. and yet not a single one had the pure soul that was needed to free him. He was locked away, punished for his wrongs even though he hadn't meant for them. One had to almost be any angel if they had any wish of opening that blasted door... But if they could open it, all that was needed was a touch. The seal would then break and the door would open on its own.

[SpringsSong]

"Oh, my gosh!" Lani gasped in shock, leaning down and looking over Zhoril, her breathing gentle as she nuzzled him and asked, "Are you... are you all right?" Her heart raced at the action of nuzzling him, but she didn't take it back.  After all, she realized, I am in love with him... undeniably.  Looking at the door, she gently moved a paw to it, curious as to what would happen.

{32}

[Kyrit]

"D-Don't!" he cried out, seemingly too late. The female's paw had already touched the door, filling him with a great dread. His mind expected the great current of electricity that surged through him to get her too, meaning that she'd get hurt as well..

This didn't happen though. If there was any shock at all, it was bare the equivalent to that of getting shocked during winter from all the static. There was a soft click, and a smirk spread over the doomsberry kuhna's maw. So... this was it. The large doors flew open, oddly not hitting the Preluhna, and the area was filled with a vast amount of bright light compared to what it had been. Right in the middle of this light stood a feline figure.

(Etz: 23)

[SpringsSong]

Lani blinked as the light flooded in, blinded for a minute.  When she was able to see again, she saw the other feline and she blinked, sensing some sort of an aura around him that disturbed her.  She moved closer to Zhoril and asked quietly, "Why would the door open for me, and not for you?"  Looking up, she saw that the feline standing before them appeared to be a Doomsberry, but she could tell that it wasn't Lasha... who was it, then?

{33}

[Kyrit]

Zhoril let out a small wince, closing his eyes as the light filled the room. He could vaugely make out the sight of the other kuhna, and could hear Lani's words. "I... don't know..." he managed to force out, trying to sit up.

"You who's soul is darker then the night sky...
Lay thyself down and haunt no more.
Open not the door, least you may die.
I die here, to heal the world so sore."

It was the Doomsberry that spoke these words, stepping closer to the others the whole time he spoke. "She killed herself to get that barrier placed around what was to be my resting place, and here you come along and set me free. You must be something special to have been able to undo that spell." She? Who was this 'she'?

[SpringsSong]

Lani's ears were flattened against her skull as she moved closer to Zhoril still.  "I know not who you speak of, nor who you are, nor what you mean by I must be something special to have undid whatever was here before.  I am but a Preluhna with a humble nature; one of charity..." She said bluntly, nuzzling Zhoril as she stood taller, her wings extending.

{34}

[Kyrit]

"My words earlier. They had been her words before locking me away. I dare say that she gave me the time to... calm down one could say." Etzal spoke, a chaotic grin spread across his maw. "I dare say that she meant for me to die with her, but I suppose maybe top."

Zhoril let out a small growl, watching him approach. "We don't care about whoever it is you're speaking of... If you so much as touch Lani I'll kill you."

[SpringsSong]

Lani blinked as Zhoril moved to defend her and spoke his promise if Etzal laid a paw on her.  Her ears remained pressed against her skull as she said, "You'll not come one step closer, you demon... You'll stay away from us... What wrong have we ever done to you?"

{35}

[Kyrit]

"Now now." Etzal spoke, tails lashing about behind him. "I never spoke a word of hurting you at all, now did I? Actually, if anything else I should be thankful to you, little chosen one."

Chosen one? Zhoril let out another growl, staying infront of Lani. He was still weak, but if Etz made any move to touch her he'd attack.

[SpringsSong]

"'Chosen one?' What, pray tell, do you mean by that?" Lani asked cautiously, stepping back all the while.  The way this Kuhna talked slightly perturbed her.  He seemed like a demon from another world; he might have been one after all.  "As far as I know, the only thing I was chosen to do was to be an angel to those who needed one..." At this, she moved closer to Zhoril, her tails gently brushing his fur.

{36}