The Mystics. *Private Arani and QOPR*

[AdAstrα]

"I know, I know.." Ayira said, frowning. "Hmm, let's see...so basically, what we need to do is make the evil spirit disappear so Hofu can go back to normal. Maybe we could...oh no that wouldn't help, silly me erm ok...let's see.." She paced back and forth, trying to come up with some kind of plan, but stopped quite abruptly as she heard Vitani's voice scream out what sounded like instructions. "Oh no!" she exclaimed, "It's too late, they're going to attack!"

[Arani]

Hatari was already at a sprint."Come on Ayria! we've got a lion to save!" She called over her shoulder. She soon came across the pride, who were gathered at the bottom of Pride rock."Stop!" she yelled, making everyone stop and turn to her in surprise."No one does anything until I give the word!"

"Hatari, what is with you? He's crazy and has to be dealt with. Permanently!" Tahi exclaimed, giving her a glare that made her stare back at him, surprise in her eyes with a strait face.

"Give us one day." Hatari said slowly."I promise that he will be back to normal." Tahi looked her in the eye and knew that she meant it. He sighed.

"One day. One day! And you better be right or we'll be on the move." Hatari nodded, the most determined look on her face than ever before.

"Ayria and I have a plan. He will be okay and back to normal after this. I promise."

[AdAstrα]

Vitani stared at her niece in disbelief.

"And how do we know for sure that it'll work?" she shouted angrily, tears still streaming down her face, "We can't waste any more time now! Someone else might get killed! We've made enough mistakes already, don't you realise that!? Tania...your mother...we can't let anyone else suffer like they did! It.."

"Vitani, listen!" Ayira roared, making everyone gasp, "You have to trust us! Please. One day, that's all we ask. If we haven't solved the problem by then.." she paused, shivering slightly as she considered the consequences of such a failure, "Then you're all free to do whatever you want. But please, don't do anything now. That'd be a terrible mistake."

Vitani fell silent. Ayira could tell that she still questioned their choice of action, but decided not to dwell on it. They had to save Hofu, and they were already running out of time.

[Arani]

Hatari was not surprised at how hard those deaths were for her Aunt, but was in shock when he Aunt had said that "We" had made to many mistakes. She looked her strait in the eye.

"I made to many mistakes. I put us all in this situation. And I'm getting us out." She said flatly, glaring at her Aunt with a surprising calm.

Tahi still starred into Hatari's eyes. She had been glaring at her aunt, then shifted her gaze back to Tahi. With a sigh, he surrendered.

"Be carful." He said sternly. "Both of you. Tomorrow after lunch. If you havent solved the problem, we're going after him." Hatari nodded and put her gaze back on Vitani.

"Don't worry. It'll work. Hofu will be saved and we'll come out of it alive." She thenwalked away, following Hofu's scent, which was faint, but recognizable. She sighed and whispered under her breath, "I hope..."

[AdAstrα]

"So do I." Ayira whispered as she caught up with Hatari, her heart pounding, "Gosh, Hatari, what are we going to do?" she added, tears forming around her eyes as she thought of Hofu, the real Hofu, and how he had been begging her to help him the previous night. If only she had known then..they could have had more time..what if they wouldn't make it? What if one day wouldn't be enough?

[Arani]

"I really don't know, Ayria. Are the spirits speaking to you at all?" She asked. The spirits that often talked to her were quiet, even her father's voice was gone.

[AdAstrα]

Ayira stopped for a second, listening carefully.
"No." she said, shaking her head. "They've gone completely silent. I get the feeling that they are being fought against. By the evil spirit, perhaps. What else would make them vanish so suddenly?" she sighed.

[Arani]

Hatari stopped dead in her tracks. "Destiny..." She whispered. "Our destiny..."

[AdAstrα]

Ayira's heart skipped a beat when Hatari stopped walking. "What?" she asked nervously, sniffing the air to determine whether there might be something up ahead that she was not yet aware of. But there was nothing there. She turned to Hatari with a somewhat bewildered look on her face. "Something wrong?"

[Arani]

"They might be silent because of destiny." She said, looking at Ayria. "Rafiki said that it was my destiny to face Hofu, but I hink he meant yours, too. The spirits must want us to deal with it on our own. That's all I can think of."