Mental Chaos

Two days passed since Dakota had returned to the academy. She wanted to see Andrew but with the news Dakota brought back, Melfara has denied her request. The feline made herself busy with classes or training. She was a lot weaker than Kazu and many others still and it was clearly shown when she battled in the castle. She was embarrassed in her weakness and found herself pushing her own limits to the breaking point in order to become stronger. Many warned her not to but Dakota was deaf to their pleas.

That evening Melfara had called a small group of students to her office. Whitney and Hotaru were already in the room. A little nervous about the wolf in the room, Dakota did her best to stop her tail from swaying side to side at the end. The door opening again made everyone look. Shion followed by Xenia walked into the office. When the door closed, Melfara stood up behind her desk.

“First I'm deeply sorry for what happened to you Dakota. Because of the other dangerous objects Kazu has hidden his room has been sealed off. No other student shall be harmed. Secondly, because the lights are still happening and the village is still in danger I am sending the five of you to try and find the source of these lights. If you in counter anyone dangerous return to the academy using the spell lle vierne. If you can handle whatever is causing trouble for the village than take care of it. Please be safe.”

After being dismissed, the group headed north to start their mission. Dakota was unsure of how well she would be able to fight with her side still not completely healed but it was too late to back out now. Casting her spell, the cat changed into her repaired battle suit. The other's changed as well. Whitney transformed into her wolf. With Whitney's and Dakota's heightened senses, they stayed near the front though everyone stayed on guard for any trouble. Dakota could tell Whitney wanted to run off a head but she needed to learn how to work as a group and not on her own all the time. The cat knew she was strong, a fair match for the cat, but there were creatures out there stronger than the wolf and no one wanted to see her hurt.

The group had made it about half way to their destination when Dakota's ears began twitching. She could hear something but it was too soft to make out. Looking over the group, it was obvious that something was bothering Shion and Whitney as well. Xenia started talking about delaying the mission since no one wanted to be caught in a trap but Dakota was determined to push on. The others agreed that the village was too important to abandoned.

“But we can't protect them if we all end up dead.” Xenia pushed.

“Then return to the school. I'm finishing the mission.” Dakota pushed back.

The others agreed so Xenia dropped her argument. Dakota relaxed a little when the noise in her ears finally stopped. But her happiness was short lived. Only a few minutes later the whole group was taken by surprise when the sky suddenly darkened as a large mass of bats flew toward them. Dakota removed her sword quickly while Whitney got ready to attack. The others pulled out their own weapons and got ready. Suddenly the mass vanished and clapping fills the now silent air. Whitney was the first to spot the once former student Kazu standing in a tree. Everyone else looked up as well to find he was the one clapping with a dark grin on his face.

“Why must is always be the same squad? It's getting awfully boring.”

“Why must it be always be the same ass? You're getting awfully boring too!” Hotaru spat back.

Whitney returned to her normal form, drawing her sword Storm-Princess, “You will die tonight son of Demogorgon!”

“Well before slowly killing you all, why don't we play a game first?” Kazu questioned.

“No more playing!” Dakota growled.

Swiftly transforming, the cat ran to attack. She was surprised to watch a mass of bats turn into her mother talking about not loving her only daughter. The feline knew it was nothing more than a trick and attacked the woman. She bursts into bats that fly away. Whitney also froze when someone stood in front of her. Dakota didn't know the lady but guessed by Whitney's expression it was someone very dear to her. A mother or sister. Glancing around, the group was all fighting with some kind of problem. Everyone was easily able to see past the trick yet Whitney could not. She had become weak with emotion. Sick of Kazu's tricks and games, rage filled the cat. Turning back to her normal form she yelled out to the boy to show himself.

“Stop being a coward!” The girl yelled.

“Of course princess.”

Once again the bats flew at the girl but instead of her mother a group of children stood before the girl. Pointing and yelling the word monster again and again, this time Dakota could not see what it truly was. Dropping her tail between her legs and covering her ears, she yelled at Kazu to stop it. Tears threatened to drop from her eyes.

“How can you torment us like this? We were your friends! We trusted you!” Dakota yelled out again.

“Like a monster could trust anyone.”

“I'm not a monster!” yelling at the children as much as Kazu.

The children disappeared in the darkness. The cat could not hold back her tears. She had to be strong. Kazu was wrong. Justin was wrong. All those people were wrong. Her parents were wrong. She is not a monster. She was just a girl who wanted to be happy. Words flooded through her mind. You called it a beast yourself. She's scary! Why does she look weird? Who could love something unnartual? A monster cannot love.

“Why are you alone then? If you are not a monster then why does your own mother hate you?” Challenged the boy.

Flattening her ears, “I don't care. She never loved me and I don't love her.”

“No one loves you. You think you can have a family but you can't. Monsters don't have families. They only have hate and death. But you know that.”

“That's not true! I know friendship and love!”

“Fake friends. People just using you for their own gain.”

“Like you, right? There one moment and gone the next?”

“Poor lonely Dakota. Seems the world hates you as well.”

“Stop being this coward who hides behind other's pain and suffering! Face me like the all powerful vampire you claim to be!”

Kazu laughed, “A weakling like you?”

“If I'm so weak then this should be easy for you!” Dakota challenged.

Attacking the girl, Kazu grabbed her by the neck and threw her to the ground. Shion, breaking free of whatever trick the boy was using on her, ran over and thrusted her knife into his side. Throwing the cat into a tree, Dakota used the opening to use her foot, pushing him over her and onto his back. Dakota inhaled deeply as Kazu pulled out Shion's knife and threw it at the girl on the ground. Dakota moved just in time. Kazu jumped back into the tree. The feline went to follow but stopped when she spotted Samusagi throwing a card and yelling the phase Melfara had told the group; teleporting them safely back to the academy. Everyone looked around confused as each person overcame their emotional battle with Kazu. Melfara walked up to them with Xenia, who had fled when Kazu had shown up, to find out what happened. Dakota explained everything with the help of Shion while Hotaru talked with Whitney.

Suddenly Dakota's side flared to life now that adrenaline was no longer flowing through her. She knew right away she had torn open her wound. Placing her hand on her side she could feel her battle suit soaked in blood. It must have happened at the start of the fight for her to have lost so much blood. The cat went to tell them she needed to get to Morganna but she passed out before she could. Shion shouting her name was the last thing the feline remembered.

Opening her eyes, Dakota found herself back in the infirmary. Sighing, the girl sat up and winced in pain. Touching her side, the cat knew this meant her recovery would start all over. This time she would listen to Morganna and rest. Then something moved and Dakota looked over to see Shion sleeping with her head on the bed as she sat in a chair. Tapping the girl's shoulder, Dakota told her to wake up. Yawning and meowing, Shion sat up and smiled a little to see Dakota awake.

“How are you feeling?”

“Sore but I'm fine. I need to let Melfara know I'm fine. She has enough to worry about.”

“No. You will rest like nurse Morganna ordered. I will tell the principal.”

“Then I will do so in my dorm. I feel useless here. At least in my room I can keep myself busy.”

The cat hissed as she stood, pain tearing through her side. Shion jumped up and supported Dakota so she didn't collapse. After telling the pink cat what dorm number to go to, the felines slowly made their way to the dorms. Every few steps Dakota was forced to stop so she could catch her breath and relieve her pain. What normally should have only taken a few minutes took almost half an hour. The cat was happy to see her door come into view and pulled out her key to unlock the door. Inside, Dakota walked on her own as Dean sniffed at the new cat. Shion stared at him then knelt to rub his head. He relaxed and began purring. Dakota thanked Shion for her help which Shion told her it was nothing. That she was happy to help a friend. The Dakota's ears twitched at the word friend but didn't comment. Shion said good-bye then walked off to tell Melfara about Dakota.