Sable stood alone in the ruined, defiled village of the Wildtra tribe - the bodies long since turned to mere bones, as he gazed tearfully around at the destruction - but he did not weep for himself - he wept for the loss of a proud and noble people - wiped out at the whim of Yuira. Kneeling, Sable buried the sword point fist in the ground, impaling a Tai'far skull with his keen blade, as he knelt.

"I do not care where you flee too Yuira - this crime - and countless others - will not go unpunished. I pledge my soul - that this will not go unpunished - I will hunt you down - across time if I must. I know Savrin and the others were not born of this time - but I swear - I will follow you - and this time - you will die at my paw - I give you my word!"

Without a flinch, Sable ran his paw down the keen edge of his blade and felt the blade shear into the flesh, and his blood drip to the ground, as he gritted his teeth, the sharp pain bringing tears to his eyes, as he pressed his bleeding paw into the ground, consummating his blood-oath.

"You can run you bitch – " Sable growled dangerously. "Yet you can not hide – I will find you, and when I do – you will suffer…."

Above him, dark storm clouds finally broke their menacing appearance, and as the stinging rain belted down, roars of thunder and lightning split the skies, as if the very God's themselves were witness to Sable's solemn oath. Turning his muzzle to the sky, Sable screamed in rage.

"I do not need your help either!"

Rising and pulling his sword free, Sable began trudging back to the cave, which had been serving as his home. His boots squelched through the mud, and the rainwater swiftly chilled him to the bone, but his anger drove him, as he headed for home, in preparation to embark on his new quest.

*

Tumbling from the portal, Savrin gasped as Abbilion, Diane and Zephyr collapsed on him in a tangle of arms and legs.

"Oh – hey – watch it!" Savrin growled.

"Wow – what a joyride – " Abbilion quipped, as he pulled himself from the tangle, then rose and blinked at the gloomy cave. "What a garden spot – where are we?"

Diane grunted and shoved Zephyr off herself, then sat up, rubbing her head, as she too looked around at the dim, dank cave. Stalagmites and Stalactites were in abundance, and somewhere down the dark tunnel; they heard the steady drip of water. Zephyr grunted then pulled himself to his feet, and there was a clattering sound as his boot connected with something. Bending down, he felt around and yelped, as something pricked his finger. Lifting it up, he scowled as he seen the skull of a ferret, the empty eye sockets gazing back at him.

"Well – " Zephyr shrugged as he threw the skull to Abbilion who caught it out of reflex and shuddered. "It's a pretty safe bet we're not in Kansas anymore Toto."

Mixed groans at his bad pun rippled through the group, then Savrin suddenly stiffened, as the voice of Kira rang out in a shriek.

~Behind you! ~
 

Whirling about, Savrin brought his Katana slicing down, and then he felt the sharp clash of steel on steel, as his blade was countered, the two weapons squealing as they clashed and sparked. Savrin blinked, to see the wide eyes of a ferret glaring back at him, a look of hate etched in its face.

"Sable?" Savrin gasped. "Is that you?"

With a snarl, the ferret dropped and undercut the slower reflexes of the startled firewolf, and sent Savrin staggering backwards, then Savrin shrieked and toppled head over tail, landing with a thud on his back. Pressing the attack, the ferret leapt and pinned Savrin down with the point of his blade pricking his throat.

It had all happened in the blink of an eye.

"By Yummei's black soul!" Swore the ferret, as he shuddered and blinked. "What the hell are *you* doing back here?"

"More to the point – " Savrin gasped. "What in hell do you think you're doing? Trying to kill me?"

Quickly, Sable sheathed his blade and helped his friend to his feet, and then they embraced and pounded each other on the back. Quietly, the others watched on, the first Diane, then Abbilion and finally Zephyr, moved in and Sable's joy was
overwhelming, as he hugged his old friends in a crushing embrace, the tears running down his face.

"What in the depths of Ceridian are you all doing back here? I thought that with the death of – " Sable squealed, his eyes inflamed with joy.

"Sable – " Savrin began. "We…we're back in the past – aren't we?"

"Sure as Yummei's soul is cold – that you be! My question – is what are you doing back here? The Time Temple was destroyed twelve years ago – and I thought…."

"What?" Savrin barked.

"Aye lad – the God's themselves blasted it with lightning they did – then the very fires of the hells opened up with the ground and swallowed the wreckage – bit of a shame actually – it took a few thousand warriors of the Tai'far with it – "

"Twelve years?" Savrin repeated.

"Hey lad – you take a belt to the head?" Sable grunted, and tweaked Savrin's ears.

"It – " Savrin blinked, and then slugged the Ferret as hard as he could in the nose, sending Sable reeling.

"Savrin!" Zephyr growled.

"Hah! You remember wolf-boy!" Sable cackled as he wiped his bleeding nose with a paw. "I'll be boiled in the depths of the hells – you remembered!"

Savrin grunted and rubbed his aching paw. "Aye Sable – I swore – if I ever saw you again, I'd thump you. My debts to you are repaid. Now – how are you? You old, cantankerous wretch?"

Sable chuckled, then went too punch the Firewolf's lights out, but Savrin caught Sable's wrist and squeezed, slowly making Sable kneel, his eyes bulging and the pain visible in his eyes.

"I yield lad!" Sable grunted. "Aye – I yield. Besides – whom are you calling old? I'm still as sharp as a dagger, and as deadly as I ever was. Come on – we've got a lot to talk about – all of us."

*

Yummei lay sprawled over a large platform, as he glared contemptuously at Yuira, who paced the floor of the stone room, her anger making her fur bristle.

Yuira growled. "Where are my faithful Tai'far? Scattered to the four winds – hundreds of thousands dead…and only a bare few hundred left here? This is an outrage!"

~ If you remember correctly Yuira ~ Came the reptiles telepathic reply. ~ I do believe – you're supposed to be dead? ~

"Death? What is death to one such as me?" Yuira screamed, as she stamped her foot in anger.

Yummei raised an eye ridge inquisitively. ~ What is death? Oh my dear, misguided Weasel – death is only the beginning – and it is going to be a very soon beginning for you, as I'm almost out of patience with your stalling. ~

"You need me Yummei – remember that. Unless I get a – suitable – host for you, you will forever remain a spirit." Yuira growled softly, as her eyes took on a vague, glazed look.

Yawning, Yummei slowly raised his eye ridges, his hood flaring slightly as a tremble ran through him. ~ What was that? ~

Blinking and snapping out of her trance, Yuira growled and slammed her fist against the table, as she slumped down into the chair. "I…I felt him... – "

Curiosity aroused, Yummei glared at Yuira. ~ Felt who? ~

"Well – for your information my dear demon – our little friends have come through the vortex…and I just got a taste of the other one…. Sable Flame – my old nemesis."

~ Him? Here…now? ~ Yummei blinked. ~ Ah – he will make a wonderful host for me – strong that one is – very strong ~

Turning away from Yummei, Yuira hid the mocking smile that touched her lips, as a plan hatched in her mind. Composing herself, she turned back around to look at the great-coiled serpent.

"Indeed – he will make a worthy host – now to get their…attention…." Yuira grinned evilly, as she began chanting….

*

"Let me get this straight – " Sable, growled dangerously. "Old black-blood came back too life – too what?"

"She's captured Coral'mi – a Water Furmental, and she has been sucking Coral'mi's life force – and powers, apparently so she can fulfil some ancient legend of the Tai'far – and become a Goddess. We've come through the portal – to stop her – and to kill her once and for all." Diane stammered, her voice cracking with her emotions.

"Then what are we doing standing around here talking?" Sable snarled. "If that black-hearted Weasel gets her way – then no-one, here or in the future – will be safe from her! Come on – I know where her Tower is…its not far."

"We need a plan – " Savrin spoke quickly, trying to stop the ferret's instinctive headlong rush. "If we charge in there, Yuira will wipe the floor with us. She is powerful Sable – more powerful than when we killed her last - I know, she nearly
killed me."

"Aye lad – " Sable sighed, as the bloodlust left his eyes and he quivered. "You're right – that Tai'far bitch – she be a wily one, and we best plan this out right. If she's anywhere near as powerful as you claim – its going to take all of us together – and a miracle from the God's themselves – for us to stop her this time."

"Sable – we must act quickly, but with thought – as Coral'mi's life force is nearly completely drained – I can sense her powers…and they are very weak – " Diane wept, as she shuddered, slowly opening her eyes. "If Yuira completes her spells – "

Leaping to his feet, Sable stamped back and forth, as his brow furrowed in anger, as he turned over every known fact of his years battling the Tai'far warriors who remained – and his overwhelming want of vengeance against Yuira – for the crimes she had committed. His very blood boiled in outrage, and his sense of honour dictated that he had to face her….

"Tell us where she is Sable – and we can deal with her…" Savrin growled. "I owe her a lifetime of hurt…"

"Aye – but if you charge in their like a maniac – she'll have your heart on a platter before you blink. There isn't many Tai'far warriors left in these here parts – but I fear, that'll change mighty quick, now that Yuira's back."

"Yummei too – " Abbilion grunted.

Sable froze, and then his head grinded 180 degrees as he looked back at Abbilion.

"Great Mother – " Sable gasped. "Yummei too?"

Diane nodded once. "From what we believe – Yummei was the one who brought Yuira back to life, and she is sucking Coral'mi's life force – and powers – dry, to make her defences weak, so Yummei can claim her as his own…in every sense of the word."

Sable swallowed and shivered. "Coral'mi – "

"Is a virgin – she's never taken a mate, nor ever will – and if Yuira has her way – Yummei will put Coral'mi with child – hence creating a creature born from flesh, but conceived from hell…." Abbilion spoke quietly, the tears streaking down his face.

"With Coral'mi's powers – Yuira will become a Goddess – " Savrin spoke up.

"Hence – we must move on her now – " Sable snapped, as he stamped his foot. "I owe that bitch of a Weasel a thousand deaths – for the murders of the Wildtra tribe – and for the – murder of my own father! I swear – let Yummei stand between me and my vengeance – but upon the 'morrow, we march for war against Yuira – and nothing shall stop us…"

A rousing cheer went up from the gathered friends, as Sable seethed and squirmed in rage, quickly outlining a detailed battle plan for the attack on the Tai'far temple – and its defences….

*

Back in the top-most room of the tower, Yummei raised an eyebrow and looked at Yuira, who laughed with a hollow, chilling cackle, and looked up at the snake, her eyes sparkling.

"They make plans like thieves – to break in to my tower – and put me to the sword, and it appears – you as well my dear Yummei…" Yuira smirked, as lightning crackled off her paws.

Yummei instantly went on the defence, his jaws snapping open and fangs extending, as his hood flared and his began weaving from side to side, glaring at Yuira.

~ I knew I could not trust you Yuira ~ Yummei glared at her, his powers rapidly rising as he summoned the very rage of the hells.

"Of course – I am my mothers daughter…" Yuira smiled, as she crouched. "Mother was a very good teacher – "