Monsters lie here. . .

Ice jumped, hearing more commotion. What was she doing? She was up here while her friend were down in the tunnels below. She took a deep breath, sheathed her sword, and went to stand over the snake veins. She relaxed her body and fell through into the tunnels below.

The commotion was louder down here and she ran toward the noise.

"Cover your ears, " Dawn said to the people closest to her.

"Wh-"

"JUST DO IT!" Dawn snapped at them and they did.

Dawn began to sing softly willing the water to come up and around the monster. This time it was less work for her and harder for the monster to break despite her tiredness.

Shadow shooked her head and pushed Celestial away, "Help. . .the others. . .I'm. . .fine. . ."

Celestial shook her head, "Your weak, we need you out of here. Now."

Shadow kept trying to push her away, "Help Dawn. . ."

Celestial pulled her hand back, seeing a large amount of blood that came from Shadow. "You need out."

While the beast was distracted, Mirage charged.
She slammed hard into the beast, her hand connecting to part of it's chest where the 'heart' should be.

Just as she though, the heart was false.
Made of pure stone.

Mirage's eyes glazed over as she began to glint, reliving every trouble, pain, fear that had created the Devourer.
Although Glinting caused her extreme pain, it stopped the beast in it's tracks.

Ice came running into the fray. She had heard Dawn singing down the corridor and had covered her ears, even though she knew it would have less effect on her than any of the humans in the group.

She saw Mirage, trying with all her might to glint the creature out of existence. She saw Vate over by Shadowstep. Both were bleeding. She carefully made her way over to them while the monster was preoccupied.

"Hello there," she said.

"I thought I told you to stay up top?" Vate asked.

"I though you said that you would need me for helping to heal. So here I am," she replied.

Dawn sang but she felt it start to drain her, She held the bubble as long as she could until finally, she didn't have the energy any more and the water fell into a puddle on the floor. She collapsed, still conscious but just barely.

Vate nodded," I need to get healed first though, we can get the Circus Master down here, but Shadow. . ." he had Ice look over at her.

"Six more Light curses and two wounds. . . We will have to heal her up top, it will use all of our energy. . ."

Ice smiled, "We can do it," she offered her hand to Vate.

Vate took her hand and they began to use their energy to heal the wounds.
The amount of energy that would convert into magic would be exhausting.
Vate first healed himself (?), then they started to heal Shadowstep.

((what's the question make for?))

"Steady. . " The Neko said though his voice strained. They were almost there.

Almost complete with Shadow's healing.
When there was a sick crack and thump, Vate turned. . Mirage had collapsed, eyes wide in terror though the Devourer still staggered in confusion.

Ice looked at the creature, fear on her face.
Why was this beast here in the first place?
Whose fears were so strong that it had decided to make residence in the area?
She turned back to the task at hand, concentrating on Shadowstep's wounds.

Ice jumped slightly, feeling a hand on her back. She looked to see The Commander behind her, The Circus Master bundeled in his arms.

"It isss feeding off us all. . . But It isss keepinf itssself going off of Milady and Ssshadow. . ."
Ice nodded returning to the healing process. "What is your plan?"

"Once Ssshadow isss ready to go. . . I want you, Vate, and Ssstratosss to get out. . .We'll deal with the ressst. . "

"Are you sure?" Vate asked.
The Commander nodded.
Ice didn't quite understand what that meant. Everything was moving so quickly.

Soon their healing was complete and Shadowstep was ready to be moved.
Ice and Vate were exhausted and almost unable to stand. They kept staggering and getting off balance.

Out the the tunnels everyone went. Everyone except The Commander and The Circus Master...

When they were in a clearing about three hundred yards away, Ice finally got what they had meant. She started to run back, but Vate grabbed her by the arm and stopped her.
"They are down there alone! With that creature! It's suicide!" she yelled.

"Ice, no," Vate said calmly.

"But they-" she started.

He cut her off with a stronger, "No! The Commander knows what he is doing!"
Ice looked at him, startled. Then tears started to fall and she knelt to the ground. "Protect them," she prayed through her tears.

Vate kneeled next to her, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. He was trembeling slightly.

"T-they will be fine. . Hai, Milady and The Commander have cheated death. . . Many times. . They'll be fine. .


The Circus Master's breathing came in struggeling gasp. She stood shakily, using The Commander as a human crutch. The Devourer glared down at them, severly weakend by the sudden loss of feed. . .

"Aya. . ."
The Circus Master nodded her approval.

"Be careful. . . ."


The Commander suddenly charged forward, sending himself straight at the creature. The beast chuckled raised a taloned paw to slash at him, an unbalanced battle carried for a few distant moments. The suddenly the beast roared out in pain adn rage.

The Commander took the moment to dash back over to The Circus Master, scooping her up and rushing to the entrance of the cave.

"Lynnick. . Did you bite it?!" she mumbeled deleriously. The Commander merely grinned at her, hiding his concern.

((Pfft. . This Monster isn't gone yet, don't get your hopes up~. xD ))

((Are they coming out of the tunnels?))

Ice leaned on Vate as she cried.
Finally she stopped.
"Thank you," she said looking up into his face.
He smiled softly, but she noted that his smile was tinged with pain, exhaustion, and worry.

(( Yes'm~! ))

There was a long silence, setting those above ground on edge.

Vate's pale eyes widend. "No. . ." He whispered softly.
He had known. He had known there was no way they could make it. . .
He had--

"Go. Move know before it getsss any ssstrength."

"C-commander?!" Ice cried out. He had just appeared. . Supporting The Circus Master.

"Yesss. Now go. Thisss isssn'tover yet. We need to regroup. . ."

Vate scrambled up and gave Ice his hand to help her to her feet.
Both being exhausted, Ice wondered how they would do in a fight.

The group regrouped.

Dawn looked around at the group, everyone was either, injured, or exhausted.

She felt fear in the pit of her stomach It feeds on fear She thought If maybe I could sing something that would calm their fears maybe it would weaken the monster. Why didn't i think of this sooner, I'm so tired now.

Shadowstep's wounds were healed but the scars still remained, the light Curse was taking ahold of her body. The area's where they were had extreme pain. Now not only was it her right shoulder, but her left. Also on her forehead, cheek bones, chin and in the middle of her chest. Vate and Ice managed to heal her wounds. The ligth curse was to strong for them both. Vate needed to go back to the Infirmary and mix up more antidote, and fast.

"I Trust you Vate. . ." Shadow words echoed in his mind, Trust him to do what? Make the right choice? Save her life? Save The Circus Master and not her?

No. He had to save them both. The Circus Master was already on her feet and awake, Shadowstep. . .lay on the ground un-moving, her breathing shallow. Vate could se the curse spreading. . .getting closer to her heart. When it would finally kill her.

Ice looked at Vate and placed a hand on his shoulder, "You can do it. I know you can."

Vate nodded, turning and dashing back towards the Circus. He would retrieve his supplies. . .

And more. . .

~{*}~

"How did it get so strong. . ?" Celestial breathed. "Just one Devourer. . ."

"Remember, Celestial, this is Russia. . ." She strained, forcing a smile.

"It will be much weaker now. . . But I jussst don't know if we can dessstroy it. . ."

Dawn could feel herself a little stronger from being out in the elements. She also knew, there wasn't much water.

Dawn leaned in and whispered, "I could do a song that would eliminate fear in most of this group..but most of them will have to allow it woo happen. They would have to but their guards down." Dawn paused a moment to breath, "but We'd have to find some water so I could feed off it's energy. The plants in this area wont be enough."

The Commander nodded slowly.
"We really have no choice. . . ."

Stratos stood shakily to his feet, expression slightly hopeful. "Celestial and I know this area. . . There is a lake very close. . . "

Dawn looked towards Shadow, "What are we going to do about her?"

Ice looked towards her also, "Vate went to get something, I am sure he will find us if we go to the lake Stratos is talking about. . ."

Dawn nodded, "Will you explain to them what they need to do unordered for me to do this?"

The Master nodded

"Stratos lead the way." Dawn said as she started pulling energy from the plants and animals around hem trying not I take too much from any of them. It helped some but it burdened her to harm the nature around her. Water would have an almost endless supply for her to use.