The Mystics. *Private Arani and QOPR*

[AdAstrα]

Ayira listened. Everything had suddenly gone quiet again. No birds singing, no monkeys chattering in the treetops - no movement coming from behind. The landscape surrounding them had once again been overpowered by an eerie silence that seemed to almost embrace them where they walked. The sun was already starting to set, and thus the temperature was dropping, which only added to the strange sensation of the landscape dying, one day at a time. She shivered. There was something not quite right about all this but what it was, she could not explain. Perhaps it was just her mind, tired from everything it had had to endure today. Imagining things that weren't even true, and might never be..
She sighed.

[Arani]

"Something wrong?" Hatari asked, hearing her sigh. She noticed what Ayria had probably noticed. It was just so quiet. Though it was hard for her to admit it to herself... she was afraid. The silence always scared her.

[AdAstrα]

"I don't know really." Ayira admitted, "It..everything just feels weird. I can't explain it.." She fell silent. A voice was speaking to her and for once, it didn't sound distant. In fact, she could have sworn that the spirit to whom it belonged was standing right next to her, carefully whispering into her ear, and trying hard not to be heard by anyone else. But there was no one there. There couldn't be..
"Help." the voice said, "Please! Help.." Ayira frowned. She didn't recognise the voice at all. Who was he? Why did he want her help?
"I can't.." she whispered, "I don't know who you are." She listened for a minute, half expecting some sort of reply. But the voice didn't speak again. Everything fell silent.
"How..odd." she concluded, turning back to Hatari again. "Did..did you hear that?"

[Arani]

"You mean that spirit asking for our help that was standing right next to you? Ya, but I'm sure it's nothing. I hear calls like that at times, I don't think there's anything to worry about." She didn't recognize the voice. She had grown very familiar with the spirits who talked to her so often, but new ones would show up at times. Nothing unusual... For her anyway.

[AdAstrα]

Ayira nodded. "Then it's probably nothing to worry about I guess." she said, smiling. "I'm not that used to hearing new voices. I usually hear the same ones all the time.. and this one was so close as well, it sort of scared me a little bit." She chuckled. "Where are we, by the way? I can't tell if we're near the Pridelands or not."

[Arani]

"We should be at Pride Rock soon." Hatari answered, doing a 180 sweep ahead of them. "I just needed to check something on our way back so we've made a slight detour. If you want to head back to Pride Rock right now just turn to your right and go strait. You'll run into it soon enough."

[AdAstrα]

Ayira nodded. Her heart was still pounding. Even though she knew that Hofu wasn't following them anymore, she was afraid. The sooner she could get back to Pride Rock, the better. "Ok then." she said, smiling. "See you later then I guess."

[Arani]

"Kay, I'll be back as soon as I can." She said, stopping to turn to Ayria. "Oh, and when you get back, would you mind telling Tahi and Huru to not come after me? They've been through enough today."

[AdAstrα]

"Ok." Ayira said before turning around and starting to walk towards Pride Rock, wondering for a second what it was Hatari had to check but deciding not to dwell on it. She was so tired right now, she just wanted to lie down somewhere safe and warm and sleep till dawn.

[Arani]

Hatari kept walking, looking strait ahead, lost in her own head. Why was Hofu doing this? Why had he turned on her? Before he turned into a evil killer, Hatari never thought in a million years that a lion like Hofu could turn so evil so suddenly. It just didn't make any sense. She needed guidance... and the spirits weren't going to cut it.

Hatari soon found herself at Rafiki's tree. He was the one she needed to talk to at this time. "Rafiki!" She called. "It's me, Hatari! Come done here, I need to speak with you!" It took only a few moments before Hatari saw Rafiki look down at her from his home.

"Oh, hello Hatari! Long time no see!" He started to make his way down the tree, wincing when he hit the ground. "I feel I am getting much to old for this." He groaned, walking over to Hatari. "What can I do for you?"

"I... I was wondering about Hofu." She began. She was cut of by Rafiki's laugh.

"You want to know why he has changed so much!" He exclaimed, laughing again. Hatari nodded.

"I don't understand how this is a funny matter." She said, glaring at him.

"It is funny because you can not see what is most familiar to you!" He laughed yet again. Hatari started to get annoyed. "I cannot tell you the reason... for that would make it to easy. But, I will tell you this: You must look inside yourself and your abilities for the answer you seek."

"That's it?" She asked, getting very annoyed. "No direct answer or sign that says "Go here to find your answer."? Why can't I just have it easy for once?"

"Nothing is that easy! Destiny wants you to figure it out on your own, and I will respect it." Rafiki said, turning and walking back towards his tree. "Oh, and one more thing, Hatari. It wasn't Hofu who killed Tania." A moment later, Rafiki was gone.

Hatari was shocked. Hofu didn't do it? How was that possible, she smelled his scent all over her corpse. None of what Rafiki had said made any sense to her at all.

"So much for that plan." She muttered angrily, turning and walking back in the direction of Pride Rock. She was gonna have to do a lot of thinking.