Trial and Tribulation Copyright 1997 Renee a.k.a. Alethea All " NiGHTS" characters and related indica mentioned herein copyright and TM of one or more of the following: Sega Enterprises and/or Sega of America Used without permission Etienne and related characters and indica copyright Jeanette Merrell Used without permission Dunamis, Alethea, Frost, Aldwyn, Rhian, Salpinx, Nettle, Tarragon, Talitha and related characters and indica copyright Renee. This document may be freely distributed as long as it is not modified in any way. Trial and Tribulation (Part 8) Nettle and Alethea worked frantically. Dunamis paced the floors and kept peering outside of the cell. Tarragon watched him carefully. It did not make Dunamis very comfortable to watch the 'maren cat hunched in the corner, slowly dragging six inch long claws against the floor. " Ok, come on." Alethea and Nettle helped Nights sit up. " I really hate to make you move at all, but we have to take you back, Dunamis." Dunamis walked over toward them; he and Alethea slid their shoulders under Nights arms, then the three of them stood up, or tried. Nights drooped forward and nearly collapsed. " Nights!" " I can make it. Just give me a minute." Tarragon sat straight up. " Figured you were going to let them go." The 'maren cat sighed in disgust. " I just hope no one finds out about these incidents. We've broken enough rules to make a list from here to wizeman's throne room." Dunamis gave them a very scrutinizing look. " Why don't you come back with us?" Tarragon looked at Nettle. Nettle shook her head slowly. " No, not yet at least." Tarragon leaned back and relaxed. " Thank goodness! You still seem to have some sense left. I thought you lost it all..." Nettle stared angrily at him and Tarragon stopped talking; instead he grinned playfully at her. Nights glanced at them. " Why not? What's possibly keeping you here? I know it can't be the decor." Nettle shook her head again. " Maybe someday. I don't make rash decisions." " If you're ever in any trouble and need help, don't hesitate to come over to Nightopia." Dunamis tapped his foot ardently on the floor. " Can we please leave now? " Nettle frowned at them. " How are you planning on getting out?" *** Aldwyn pushed several branches out of his way. The 'maren was leaning against a boulder. Aldwyn noticed that she was not just leaning, but was slouched against it for support. The branches he had pushed snapped, and the 'maren whirled around wide-eyed. She tried to run. The minute she put wait on her right leg she fell face down on the slush covered ground, and let out an agonized, forlorn cry. Aldwyn gasped and flew over to her. She sat up, eyes brimming with tears, and punched at Aldwyn, who moved out of her way. " Calm down! I trying to help you!" He gave her an honestly sympathetic, kind look. The animal-like terror faded from her eyes and she stared at him in an exhausted and heartbreaking demeanor. The 'maren started weeping. He knew she was cold, hurt, frightened and weary. Aldwyn knelt down on the ground beside her and held her. Finally, she calmed down, and Aldwyn spoke to her. " What's your name?" The 'maren sobbed slightly. " Rhian." (Pronounced Rhine) " My name is Aldwyn. Can you fly?" Rhian shook her head. Aldwyn looked up at the sun. " We need to leave before the Nightmaren get cocky enough to send a strike force after a ragged pair of rebels." Aldwyn picked her up and flew toward the base. *** Alethea looked back across the land. The castle rose in thin black spires to the sky. They had covered several miles, and Nights was drained. He would not be able to make it all the way to Nightopia without resting. Worse, he was in shock, and she was going to have to keep him awake. He was trying for everything he was worth, but Nights was already spent. " Stop Dunamis." Dunamis stopped and looked at Alethea. " For what?" " Nights can't keep this pace up." They walked over to a boulder and rested. " Reala didn't have this much trouble." Dunamis commented. " Reala wasn't injured this seriously either." " Too bad." Alethea glared at him disapprovingly. Nights's eyes drooped shut, and Alethea shook him. " Not now. Stay awake." Nights nodded, worn out. The fact that he had been unable to sleep after such a grueling battle did not help make things any easier." We can't wait here for long." *** " WHERE IS THE BASE!" Salpinx did not answer once again. wizeman thundered in indignation and struck Salpinx for what seemed like the millionth time. Salpinx was thrown into the wall and slid to the floor. Everything began to fade to black. He felt the searing pain of being hit more times than was safe with energy. Everything in his body felt broken. It didn't take much for wizeman to injure someone, and the fact that he was still alive meant that wizeman was managing to control his temper, at least somewhat. Salpinx blacked out. " GET HIM OUT OF HERE!" thundered wizeman. The guards rushed over and dragged the battered, limp form of Salpinx out of the room. Gillwing stared at them. He had seen wizeman interrogate other rebels before, but never one that had been a high official and never this angrily. Gillwing kept wondering what would happen if he displeased wizeman. It was frightening thought after an interrogation like this. He rubbed his left wing nervously; he could almost feel it aching. He knew the rules that applied to prisoners, and he knew Salpinx was going to languish in misery inside of the prison. wizeman dismissed the officials, and Gillwing flew out of the throne room. He had seen Clawz expression during the entire episode, and he had never seen Clawz like that in his entire life. His ears had been flattened against his head and his eyes had been wider than Gillwing would have thought possible. He thought he had seen the hair on Clawz neck stand on end. Gillwing had noticed Jackle had been so terrified that he had not so much as tittered, much less laugh (Jackle has a horrible tendency to laugh under stress). Even Gulpo had been terrified, and that was a nearly impossible feat. Gillwing spotted Nettle walking down one of the halls. " Nettle." She turned around and looked at Gillwing. He motioned to her with one of his wings. Nettle flew over to him tensely. " See what you can do for Salpinx." Gillwing sailed down the hall leaving a very surprised 'maren behind.