The Mystics. *Private Arani and QOPR*

[AdAstrα]

He stared at her for a few seconds. "You know nothing about me!" he growled, raising his paw to strike her down when someone suddenly attacked him from behind. He roared with pain as razor-sharp teeth sank into his hind leg and aimed a kick at the creature, sending it flying quite a distance before it finally hit the ground and remained still. He gazed at Hatari one last time before he ran off, limping slightly, but soon disappearing into the shadows once again.

[Arani]

Hatari closed her eyes tight as Hofu prepared to strike her. But he didn't. He was suddenly roaring with pain, and the scent of fresh blood filled the air. When she opened her eye, Hofu was half running, half limping away. Who ever had attacked him hurt him bad enough that he had to run. So, Hatari slowly approched the still form, knowing that there was absolutly no danger, but still not sure who had attacked Hofu, and probably saved her life.

(Sorry for it being short on a time scedual lol.)

[AdAstrα]

Ayira groaned as she sat up, her limbs trembling slightly. She could not only taste Hofu's blood, but her own; however this did not frighten her, for there was no way for her to estimate how severe her injury was or where it was located. She blinked. For a split second she seemed unable to remember just what had brought her there, or why she had just woken up and found herself lying on the ground covered in dust. Then she remembered.
"Hatari?" she said silently, "Hatari, are you all right? Did...did he hurt you?"

[Arani]

Hatari ran to Ayria, sitting beside her. "Me? Why you worried about me? You're the one who saved me! You're not beat up to bad are ya?" She asked with a consern in her voice that she could not recognize as her own conserned voice. It surprised her some, how much Ayria meant to her. "Why did you attack him? The last thing we need is you getting killed, too." She didn't say it in an angry way, but in a conserned tone. Almost a... motherly tone, to her great surprise.

[AdAstrα]

Ayira shook her head. "No,I think I'll be ok." she said rapidly, deciding not to try to stand up just yet in case she would fall over. Although she knew that Hatari didn't mean to sound harsh, she couldn't help but feel a little bit surprised, almost offended, as she began to question her attacking Hofu. "He was about to kill you, didn't you realise that?" she said, shivering, "I had to do something. It wasn't much, but it was enough to make him leave, for the time being..but it won't keep him away for very long, he will be back soon."
She sighed.

[Arani]

Hatari felt extremely ashamed, realizing that she may have offended her. "I'm sorry. I thank you deeply for saving me, Ayria. I really do. But what if... deep down, that's what I actually wanted?" She stood and walked away some, looking into the distance. "Maybe that's what I've wanted all along. To rid everyone of my mistakes." She sighed, closing her eyes, letting all the memories flood back to her in another huge wave. "I just..." She stopped short, unable to make herself say the words.

[AdAstrα]

Ayira shook her head. "Hatari.." she said softly, "I..I can only imagine what this must be like for you, and I know you feel guilty, but please - don't blame yourself. This whole Hofu thing, it's just..out of control. He's more powerful than any of us could have ever imagined."
She shivered, remembering her last encounter with the rogue. "It's weird." she continued, frowning, "I keep getting the feeling that there's something not quite right about this, you know what I mean? Like..there's more to it than just a lion wanting revenge. I can't explain it."
She sighed, hearing the cries from afar as the rest of the pride became aware of what had happened. Her stomach lurched. How much worse was this going to get?

[Arani]

"You don't understand, Ayria. It's not just Hofu... It's not just Tania and my mom... It's Abigail, and my father, and... and all those lionesses that were killed in the fight over Pride Rock! All of it, every single death was my fault." A tear slid down her cheek in spite of her trying desperately to conceal it. "Truthfully... I don't have as much strength as everyone thinks I do... I just don't." The crying and wails now entered her ears, making her even more sad than before. When Ayria Mentioned that There was more to Hofu, Hatari smiled for a fraction of a second. "Now you're catching on." She turned to Ayria but stayed where she was. "It's not Hofu who's doing this... it's something else, another spirit. It's taken him over and he cant regain control. That's who's been coming to you calling for help, Ayria. That was Hofu, the real Hofu! He's dieing in there and needs our help. We cant let the Pride kill him!"

[AdAstrα]

Ayira gasped, instantly knowing that Hatari was right. The spirit, the familiar scent,the way he kept crying and asking for help... the way the spirits of her ancestors couldn't reach out to her because something was blocking them, something powerful and sinister that had taken over not only this land, but the spirit world as well. It was him, the evil spirit who had posessed Hofu. It had been him all along. Hofu himself had never done anything. In fact, he was going to die unless they did something soon.
"You're right! We have to help him." she concluded, standing up. "But how?"

[Arani]

Hatari started to say something, but stopped. "Uh... I don't know. What would Hofu say?... Hmm, he'd probably say something like 'Why don't you use your spiritual magical mojo to show him what girls are made of.' Maybe we could... throw a spirit party and corner him?" She looked at Ayria's face, which was looking back at her with a look that screamed. 'Ya, right. As if.' "What?! I'm just throwing idea's out there! We gotta think of something fast!"