The Mystics. *Private Arani and QOPR*

[AdAstrα]

Ayira shook her head. "No." she said, her heart pounding, "I can't! He seems to be everywhere..." She listened carefully, but it was no use. There was no way of knowing exactly where Hofu was at this point.

She jumped as an ear-splitting roar echoed throughout the vast landscape, a roar of fury and power that sent chills down her spine.
"Gosh." she gasped, turning to Hatari, "He seems angry. Can you see him?"

[Arani]

"I'd be lucky to see a monkey. And they're hard to spot when they want to be." She sighed. "No. I'm afraid we'll have to wait until he..." She stopped short, not wanting to say the words. She knew Ayria understood, so she just kept scanning the area for signs of movement. At that moment, it was Hofu's game.

[AdAstrα]

Hofu grinned, his heart rate increasing as he crept closer to the two lionesses, trying hard to stay camouflaged for as long as he possibly could. He was getting more confident now, yet he couldn't help but think that there was something very suspicious about this. They knew that he was following them, why had they stopped so suddenly? Did they not realise that he was going to kill them?

[Arani]

Hatari heard a breath from somewere close by. She tensed up and looked around. "He's close by." She whispered. "Somewhere in the brush next to us I think. If my plan works he'll be back to normal... I hope." She sighed and looked off to her left, where a cliff was only a few steps away. That made her nervous, and she now silently scolded herself for being to close to that edge. She didn't want to have the same fate as her father.

[AdAstrα]

Hofu took one deep breath before he slowly emerged from the shadows. Baring his teeth, he stared at Hatari, trying to see her soul, to read her mind as her eyes met his. He wasn't going to let her get away this time and she must have known, because she looked somewhat anxious, although she was trying her best not to let it show.

[Arani]

"Hofu." She said, staring strait into his eyes. "How nice of you to finally join us. I was beginning to wonder if you were lion enough to show." She gave him an awkward smile. "You know where we are, right?"

[AdAstrα]

"Oh yes,I know where we are, Hatari." He said, grinning as he slowly approached the two lionesses, "We are right on the border of what is soon to become my land." he chuckled. "You've seen what I can do, little Queen, and as soon as I've killed you everything will be even easier. It won't be long before you're all dead..and I'll have my kingdom, at last.."

[Arani]

Hatari stood her ground. She was no longer afraid of Hofu. "Ya, we're on the border." She began. "But what happened here?" She asked him, forcing him, or Hofu, to recal the memories. This was the spot where Hofu was found, and this was the spot where he was once the happiest lion he ever was. "I dare you to remember."

[AdAstrα]

Hofu merely stared at the lioness before him. Remember? At first he did not understand what she meant, but once he did, he let out another roar of anger and frustration. "No!" he growled, taking a few more steps forward, "I know what you're trying to do! And I will not let you!"

[Arani]

"There's my proof." Hatari said with a chuckle."I'm not afraid of you, Hofu. Don't think I am, even for a second. No matter what you do, you can't touch us. He'll make sure of that." She gave him another grin of victory. "You didn't actually think you could get rid of Hofu, did you? You've tried to think this through to much, but you didn't suspect we'd sense him. That's gonna cost you."