In the cool plains of Titania, a black Khatta has been a not-entirely-willing guest of the large (and mostly lupine) Titanians. At least his treatment has improved, especially since twice over he has proven his worth as a hero. It helps to make up for all those catastrophes that follow him around. But then, catastrophes are so abundant here anyway that perhaps nobody noticed.

The most immediate problem, though, would seem to be a certain Tiger Khatta … and a certain large daughter of his who seems to be rather fond of a certain Khatta and trying to claim that she is now betrothed to him. Something to do with an odd Titanian tradition and some pastries. At least the pastries tasted good.

The new morning finds Jynx in his quarters, the din of the hammering and banging falling in the background so that he hardly even notices it anymore.

Jynx sits on his pile of rags that serves as a bed, baggy-eyed and hunched over. Through his mind runs a multitude of colorful words to describe this place (although none of them pleasant). Tired, sore, and homesick, it suffices to say that he's had his fill of this place.

There's a thudding noise. A familiar thudding noise. No time to react. Tiger stripes appear, belonging to that very large and enthusiastic Khatta Tigress. "Wake up! Today we wed!"

Jynx looks tiredly up, "What? Wed?" He squints at the Tigress, "Oh, that thing… Well, er, you see… "

"Yes! Wed!" The Tigress claps her hands together. Well, actually, it's more like SMASHING them together, from the sound. "Hurry and get up!"

Jynx looks for a way to escape (as if he could), "About this wedding thing, it's not that I dislike you or anything. I mean, you're very… butch, but I mean that in a nice way. It's just that I have this thing about getting married … it's not me… "

The Tigress blinks, looking at a loss for words. Then, she says, "You refuse me?"

( Whooo boy… ) "Not so much refuse as… well… yes sorta, I guess you could put it that way… " The black Khatta begins to sweat.

The Tigress' eyes flash angrily. She looks as if she's trying to say something, but it just comes out as a hiss and a bestial roar!

Jynx claps his paws to his ears, ( Smooth move, blackie, ) his brain tells him, ( Now how about calling the Champion of Ashes an idiot to his face? We might get off easier… )

The Tigress continues her frenzy, her tail lashing about. It knocks over some unidentifiable container, which clatters, then cracks and crinkles as it rolls, then falls a step to its doom. She jumps at the sound, yowling angrily, then begins trashing about with her arms, knocking down more miscellaneous items, and sending more flying.

Jynx buries into his rags, unable to run due to the fact that a very large and angry Tigress blocks the way out. Shivering under his greasy asylum, he peers out, looking for any chance to sprint…

About the only way to freedom would be to risk a squeeze around the Tigress … or right under her, like he did last time. The odds don't look the best, but as a few items bounce off his head and other vulnerable body parts, it's evident that his present situation is less than safe.

With a deep sigh, the cat gets crouched down into a starting position. He then leaps out of the rags, and bolts as fast as he can to the Tigress' legs, praying silently that he survives.

Jynx ALMOST makes it, but the Tigress is moving around a lot more unpredictably than she was on the catwalk. She ends up stepping on his tail, causing him to yank backward and fall to the floor. She spins around, absently letting go of the tail, but now poised to spring.

Jynx YELPS loudly, falling flat and clutching his strained tail, tears of pain springing to his eyes. Being as tired as he is, Jynx forgets completely about the agitated femme fatale feline that several times his size and ready to make him into mince meat.

The Tigress lets out a thunderous roar that causes the pipes on the wall – and Jynx's teeth – to rattle!

His skull rattling as well, Jynx looks back wide-eyed and opened mouthed. He shoots up again, ready to make another bolt to freedom.

Just as Jynx does … he trips over a rolling canister, and … oh no! She must have done something to weaken the railing, because, with a creak of protest and then a snap, it breaks free, sending the black Khatta hurtling in space, toward the floor and jumbles of junk and machinery so far below!

Jynx screams as he hurtles (yet again) downwards. ( Please please PLEASE get me out of this!! I promise not to be such a pain! Never again!! )

*THOCK* Jynx's fall stops. His legs wobble. Amazing! He LANDED ON HIS FEET!

He's on a grilled platform suspended above the floor proper. It juts out from another jumble of tubes and pipes, near a rickety-looking ladder. There's no way to get back up to where Jynx came from. But then … is this a bad thing?

Well, fortunately he is a cat after all. Unfortunately, those feet he landed on are very weak, and he shortly collapses onto his bum. Looking up, he smiles somewhat, just glad not to be made into kitty strips. Now, after a brief respite, he looks for a way off this platform, preferably before you-know-who finds him.

Jynx spies the ladder, and painfully makes his way over to it, looking down before he makes his descent.

Above, the Tigress pounds along the walkway, roaring loudly, drawing the attention of several lupines. Well, at least they're not looking in HIS direction. As for the ladder, a couple of rungs threaten to break on him, as this must not be much used – or maintained – but so far so good.

Jynx mentally shrugs, it's theladder or the claws, and the ladder sounds like the safer bet. The cat carefully starts down the rungs, not going to fast, and yet not to slow either.

A few rungs do break, but not without warning. At last the Khatta makes it to the floor below. The Tigress is far enough away now that he can't even hear her.

The cat sighs with relief, which turns into a yawn. Blurry-eyed he surveys his surroundings. ( Well, it's been fun here but I think it's time for me to do the famous Kurai Family Disappearing Trick. )

Not much attention is paid to the Khatta. The Titanians are hard at work, and nobody seems to be expecting him up at this hour to ask him to perform another chore.

Jynx wanders about, not sure where he is and not really caring, just so long as he's away from the striped terror. He looks for one of two things: Either a way out of here, or some place to hide and take a cat nap (one where he hopefully won't have a repeat of his earlier adventure).

Finding a way out seems easier than finding a place to nap. The whole front of the cavern is open to the sky, letting in the morning light.

Just a walk, some climbing … and freedom should be attainable!

Like a zombie, Jynx stumbles his way in the general direction of the light, if he were the only feline you had ever seen and you saw him in this state, you'd never believe cats were graceful.

Some time and several trips and falls later, Jynx staggers out of the cavern entrance, past a few more outlying piles of debris, and then out to a mostly barren (but cool) landscape that stretches out in every direction, broken by the occasional scraggly growth, broken boulder, or gently rolling hill, the mountains and woodlands far in the distance.

Before making his way out, Jynx takes one last look over his shoulder at the Titanians. He isn't sure what worse, living with them, or facing the elements.

A rumble in the sky heralds an oncoming storm. This one looks like a doozy.

Jynx grimaces, he's not too fond of water. Then again he also isn't too fond of getting married to a Tiger. Shaking his head and slapping his cheeks to get some of the juices flowing, he sets out.

A lonely wind howls across the open landscape, occasionally strong enough to make Jynx stagger even more than he was already. It's going to be a long walk home.

Jynx sets out, fighting fatigue and everything else, with hopes of home dancing in his mind.

Those hopes carry the Khatta onward and onward across the bleak landscape. Thank goodness it's summertime here…

Time passes. It seems like it takes so long for the sun to go down. Does it really go down at all? Or, more, it just seems to get lower in the sky, turn a bit, and coast behind some mountains, before rising again later.

The cat stops, time for a break. He plops heavily down to the ground, and looks back to see if he can still see the entrance to Camp Behemoth.

Behemoth is long behind. The surroundings look … well, much the same, in the sense that little changes, but there are no familiar landmarks. Just those mountains up ahead, which don't seem any closer.

Jynx allows himself the luxury of a long yawn, then scans for a suitable place to curl up. He doesn't really bother looking for much cover, since he's not going to find much out here.

Some scraggly trees look to provide the best cover for now. Not much … but something. At least that threatening storm never dumped on him. In fact, the sky is almost clear now. Amazing what happens when you're dazed.

Jynx rises with a wince, and half-stumbles half-falls over to the trees. He makes the best makeshift bed he can out of what he can find, and curls up, ready to go off to slumberland.

The black Khatta's dreams are troubled and fitful. It seems so strangely silent out here, without all that banging … except for that howling wind. Jynx dreams of running away, running away from so many people out to get him. Mad Tigresses, black Khattas, pestering little sisters, savage Savanite tribesmen, crazy Savanite painters, swarms of icky bugs…

… and don't forget crazed bats with lisps, drunken raccoons, and a few monsters for good measure…

At last, the black Khatta wakes up, still in the same bleak landscape. Funny, but the mountains don't seem quite so far away now.

Feeling refreshed physically, if not mentally, Jynx rises and surveys the horizon, looking for a direction that might lead to civilization, and a way back home.

At first, there's little indication of civilization … except that, where the range of mountains shrinks down into just a ridge of sharp hills, Jynx can see a few shapes that, upon further squinting … appear to be some sort of settlement spilling over the hills. Plus, there's more vegetation in that direction.

Jynx shrugs, guess that's the way to go then. Leaving the meager security provided by the trees, the cat starts off towards the hills, his stomach growling and urging him on.

Much more time passes. And more time … and then … Jynx wakes up, finding himself being jolted along on the back of a rickety wagon.

Jynx bolts upright, letting out a loud "Wha?" as he does so.

Jynx is riding in the back of a flat-bed wagon drawn by a two-dromodon team. In the front of the wagon sits a Cervani. He turns around in his seat, smiling, and, Jynx can understand him to say "Oh!", but after that, it's just a stream of words in some language he can't place. It's a somewhat harsh language, really, with lots of bitten-off words. But then, somehow it seems to fit with this chill air.

Jynx looks blankly at the deer, giving a shrug. "I'm sorry sir, but I don't have a clue to what you're saying… " He makes his way closer to the front, wondering how in the name of the First Ones he ended up here.

The way around Jynx is a bit different now. He must have gotten past those mountains. While the vegetation isn't exactly lush, there are many more trees here, and lots of other plant life as well … and fauna to boot, based on the creatures that scurry across the road, as if daring the wagon to roll over them.

*SKISH* Well, there's natural selection for you.

After taking a long look around, the Khatta glances at his deer companion, "I guess you don't speak Rephidim standard, do you."

The Cervani peers curiously at the Khatta, then blathers something, with the word "Rephidim" occurring in it. He points at the sky a couple of times.

"Oh, I see. I… was not… aware… " Not that Jynx can make out heads or tails of the Cervani's speech, but he tries to appear friendly, "Well, it'd probably be useless to ask where we're going, wouldn't it?"

The Cervani has a frustrated look, apparently unable to make a bit of Jynx's speech, either, but he just shrugs and goads his Dromodons to pick up the pace, continuing along the dirt road, now and then passing a cottage.

Jynx sighs and just takes a seat, enjoying the fact that he doesn't have to walk anymore. He watches the scenery pass by, hoping for any clue as to his destination.

A good candidate for a destination seems to be looming ahead – some sort of inn. The driver pulls the wagon up alongside the road, which has begun to get a little wider now (after joining up with more paths along the way), and he halts his team.

Jynx blinks and looks at the driver, "So, are we here? Wherever here is?"

The Cervani gets off the wagon, then claps his hands, and makes some "come along now" gestures to Jynx.

Jynx shrugs. When in Rome, do as the Romans do (wherever THAT is). He jumps down from the wagon and walks besides the buck, letting him lead.

The Cervani opens the door in a gentlemanly nature for Jynx, revealing the lobby of, yes, an inn just inside. It does not look like a fabulous establishment by any means, but it looks very homey, and there's a warm fire in the hearth. Everything is so clean, and there are signs of handcarved woodwork everywhere. The people who live here must care a great deal about appearances, even if they can't afford expensive pre-made trappings.

Jynx looks around the place, impressed by the workmanship of the interior. He looks back to the deer, giving him a 'what now' look. And that wouldn't be… food he smells, would it?

The Cervani walks up to a matronly-looking crow who seems to be in charge of the place. He speaks in low tones, gesturing often to Jynx, prompting a few caws and some head nods and a motherly, worried look from the big bird.

At last the deer bows to the crow, then walks on out, patting Jynx's back on the way and saying something that sounds friendly if impossible to place.

Jynx continues to follow the Cervani, oblivious to the fact that he was being spoke of.

The Cervani frowns at Jynx, as he reaches the doorway, then reaches out and turns Jynx back around, saying something else. The crow caws and wobbles over to Jynx, reaching for his hand with a claw-like hand that is attached to her wing – as it is with the crow-like Korvs.

Jynx's brow furrows, "Well, you could have told me to stay… oh wait, I guess you couldn't… " With a small sigh the cat follows the crow in frustration.

Through a doorway … so THAT is where the smell of food was coming from! A table is set with a full meal – a rather large table at that – and there are many guests of different species and apparently very different walks of life seated there. Bowls of food are being passed around the table, and someone rises to get a chair from next to the wall and drag it back to provide a place for Jynx to sit down.

Jynx takes the seat, and looks around in puzzlement, but one thing he is sure of: food. A small smile creeps across his face, and he begins to heap all of the good stuff on to his plate, if there is any good stuff that is.

By the smell – and then the taste – yes, there IS good stuff here. Some of it isn't necessarily to the Khatta's tastes – a cultural thing, perhaps – but there is plenty variety to choose from.

Taste is at the bottom of the Khatta's list at the moment, and he busies himself on the task of filling up, hungrily wolfing down all he can get on his plate.

The Khatta is offered more and more food … until he's at bursting capacity, and even THEN he's offered more. The Khatta will not go hungry tonight.

After a while, Jynx sits back in his chair, stuffed to capacity. As he's offered yet more food, he declines it, "No no, any more and I'll bust! But thanks anyways!"

Just about this time … the crow brings out … DESSERT!

Okay, maybe there's room for a little bit more…

Pies, cakes, cookies … even some ice cream. There are many exclamations of approval (it can be safely assumed they are such) from around the table.

As for the diversity of the group of the table, they fall within a comparatively small number of races – There are several Khatta, like Jynx himself, then a couple more crow-like Korvs … and also some of those flat-faced humans which just are not seen in Rephidim much at all … plus some more of the deer-like Cervani and what looks like a family of raccoon-like Rath'ani.

Jynx takes a little bit of everything, until finally it is impossible for him to cram any more down his seemingly endless gullet. He sits in his chair, a glazed thanksgiving dayish look on his face.

Jynx picks at his teeth with a claw, and looks around at the gathered. Must be some sort of party.

At last, some of the guests begin excusing themselves. It must not have been morning after all, but evening, and it's getting darker outside. Some of the guests head outside, while others head up some stairs, disappearing to the floor above.

The crow waddles over to Jynx, again talking to him in that language, though much more slowly, as if that might somehow help. She seems to be fussing over making sure he hasn't any crumbs still on his face, and then intent upon leading him to the stairs.

Jynx allows himself to be led, just blinking blankly at the strange talk. Somehow this crow reminds him of his mother, Lylia.

Up the stairs, the crow leads Jynx to a small (but clean and comfortable) bedroom that looks to have been made up just for him. In fact, the hall has many doorways leading to what must be a number of other bedrooms. But then, this DOES appear to be an inn. Just a fairly homey one. The crow points Jynx's attention to various things in the room that pretty much explain themselves, then squawks off some more instructions, pointing somewhere down the hall (perhaps to the facilities), and at last leaves the black Khatta to himself.

Jynx watches the crow leave as she closes the door behind her. He then surveys the room, a smile crossing his face. Since he slept all day, the Khatta really isn't all that tired, and just goes to sit on his bed, staring blankly at the wall. "Well… what to do now… "

The window must be open, for the drapes flutter about, offering glimpses of the scenery outside … not far beyond the inn can be seen the outskirts of a village, plumes of smoke and steam drifting up to be cast upon the wind as they break the treeline. Also beyond can be seen the edge of the mountains … and an eerie glow just beyond the ridge that the mountains form. The glow pulsates on occasion, then drops to a dull faintness. There's something about that light which sets one's hackles on end.

Jynx shivers at the sight of the glow, remembering the Aelfin telling him about it. 'Bosch' the name was… not too friendly sounding to be honest. The village however seems like a nice enough place, nothing like the large and intimidating Rephidim (intimidating to an outsider, that is). The cat lies down on the bed, just thinking idly, unable to sleep.

The wind blows by again … this time sounding like a murmuring voice, then as if there is cackling laughter in the distance … then, just as soon as Jynx's mind notices such a thing, it fades away, being just the wind again.

There's another sound Jynx hears. A ticking sound. Ticking? Yes. Across the room … there's a clock! Not that a clock is such a wonder, but, even in Rephidim, they're fairly rare … not the sort of thing you stick in a guest room. And, furthermore, a small clock like this is the sort of thing you'd think less likely to find on the surface, where magic runs wild and technology fails.

Jynx sits up and stares at the clock curiously. He didn't even have one in his room back in Rephidim. The Khatta gets up off his bed and pads over to it, picking the device up and examining it.

The clock continues to tick lightly, a pendulum visible beneath a glass panel in its base. It's heavier than it looks, but not impossible to pick up. It's a fine piece of workmanship, indeed.

Jynx takes the clock back over to his bed and sits down. He stares at it for a long while, his feline curiosity causing him to wonder how the thing even manages to work this close to a forbidden zone.

Whatever the secret is, it's not telling. Though, for a moment, it seems as if that wind is whispering again. Or maybe it's just the Khatta's imagination … or … someone is humming in the next room.

Jynx strains his ears to hear the hum, and goes to the wall to listen closer, placing the clock back in its original position.

There's a female voice in the next room, humming some melody that sounds vaguely familiar. Possibly it's some holiday tune. Holiday … Wait! That's IT! This must be First Ones' Day!

The sound drifting on the wind … is music … There must be someone playing music in the village beyond. The "cackling" must have been some sort of strange musical instrument. Every land has its own strange instruments, after all.

Jynx sighs, has he been gone that long already? He misses his mother's holiday feast, even better than the one he had tonight, and even misses his pestering little sister. He doesn't miss the relatives coming over and being annoying, but that's besides the point… Then Jynx thinks… If this person knows the tune, then maybe she can speak Rephidim standard! He quickly pads out of his room, and goes next door, knocking.

The humming inside the room stops. There's a voice in that strange language again. No idea as to translation.

"Uh, hello," Jynx says anyway, "You don't speak Rephidim by any chance, do you?"

"Oh?" Then, the door opens. It's dark inside, save for a solitary candle burning on a table. "And who might you be?"

… It can't be.

The black Khatta inside the room … SHRIEKS!!!

Jynx peers inside… that voice… no, here too?!

The door slams roughly in Jynx's face.

Jynx OOFS! And falls flat. He stands back quickly, and shouts angrily at the door, "What are you doing here? Trying to make these people's lives a living nightmare like you've made mine?"

"Go away!" comes a voice from behind the door. "You … you … Whatever you are! You can't be real! You must be some sort of evil spirit, the way you keep showing up! Go away! I can't deal with you!"

Several doors have opened, and curious patrons of the inn look out into the hallway.

"Oh, I'll go away all right," Jynx yells, "but don't even think about going next door! Because there's a heavy clock waiting to meet your face if you do!"

There's no response from inside. Just many stares at the yelling Khatta.

Jynx turns around angrily, and notices all the faces looking at him. He glares back at them, "What're you looking at? Don't just stand there looking like a bunch of idiots, go back to bed!" With that, the cat storms back to his room, slamming the door behind him.

The black Khatta stomps over to his bad, and lies heavily down upon it laying on his back. He stares angrily at the wall touching Blossom's room, continuing to do so all night, while the clock ticks the time away.