Catheroes

by A. J. Chaudhury

  “There they are!”

  I ran to the side of the house and saw that the guards were entering the compound of the house through the gate. I ran back to where Junaki and Meow were.

  “Go,” Meow said. “I’ll handle them.”

  “I doubt they will be handled by you,” I said. “The guards saw you pulling us away from them.”

  Meow made a faint smile.

  “I know the Blast spell,” he said.

  “There is no way you would remain alive,” I said, “you are already too weak.”

  “Just go,” Meow said.

  I didn’t know what to do. One part of my mind wanted to leave Meow alone and flee at the moment, the other part wanted me to take him along. He might have betrayed me, but from his eyes I knew that he had regretted his doing long and hard.

  Just then, the guards appeared around the side of the house.

  “Go!” Meow yelled, “I am activating it!”

  I made a quick decision. I pointed to Junaki to climb the walls surrounding the house and flee. As she took off, I rushed towards Meow.

  “No!” he yelled. I grabbed his arm, but he kicked me away. He looked exasperated with me. Just then one of the guards reached us. He grabbed my shoulder. I was quicker. I drove my sword into his chest.

  “Come Kitty,” Junaki yelled, she was standing on top of the wall, waiting for me.

  I pursed my lips. More guards were pouring into the compound of the house, and a few were running towards Junaki on the wall.

  “Please go,” Meow begged. “I must sacrifice myself to save you. It’s my only way to redeem myself.”

  My heart was pounding in my chest. I nodded, my eyes teary.

  “I shall remember you,” I said.

  Chapter 35

  I sprinted towards the wall. I picked a stone from the ground and threw it at one of the guards who was beginning to climb the wall. It hit his head. The other guard was handled by Junaki, who jumped from the top of the wall, her sword pointed down. Her sword pierced through the neck of the guard, aided by gravity. The two of us then climbed the wall, and we were back in the streets.

  Barely had we taken a turn that the sound of a great explosion reached my ears. I knew Meow had died, and he had killed the guards with himself, for none pursued us anymore. Meow might have had the mana to activate the blast, but I had hit him so much that he would have never had the health required to survive the intensity of his own spell.

  After we had taken quite a few turns, we slowed down. We were in that part of the streets that were relatively crowded. The blood was still on my fur and Junaki was also stained with crimson in several places. There was no way the guards at the gate which separated the two parts of the city would let us through. Thankfully, we happened upon a large lake. I recalled that once, a long time back in my previous life, I had strolled past the same lake and remarked about the clear water to Meow, who had been with me at the time. We used the lake water to clean ourselves.

  We didn’t pass through the gate together. I was afraid that the guards at the gate might have come to know that there were two cats disguised as dogmen that had sneaked into the restricted part of the city.

  First I sent Junaki. Seeing that she had passed through the gate unquestioned, I too went through it after a minute and was not met with any interrogation from the guards. Junaki was waiting for me at a spot on the other side of the gate. Then the two of us together made our way back to the inn.

  Seeing Riya’s eager face was quite a relief. I was thankful that we had been able to come back alive.

  Our visit to Meow’s mansion, however spelled problems over the cats still residing in the capital. Later on that evening, Dogmen soldiers began to pour out of the restricted part of the city. They closed down all shops and inns that belonged to cats. Mrida told us all this. I was sad. How were Mrida and the other cats going to feed themselves now?

  The next day, Junaki, Riya and I stayed put. Things only got worse in the capital. The youth amongst the cats were randomly caught by the guards, beaten up and some were taken to the dungeons. That night, Mrida’s son didn’t return, whom Mrida had sent to fetch commodities from the shops of the dogmen that were still open. Mrida was heartbroken. I felt guilty. If we had been able to carry out the task with grace and secrecy then this wouldn’t have happened.

  Mrida, who had come to our room, giving us news of the happenings of the day sobbed.

  “Even Princess Amina has been put under house arrest,” he said. “We cats are doomed.”

  “How dare you say something like that?” Riya told him, and she sounded quite angry, “King Kitty has returned. The dogmen shall be chased away. It’s just a matter of time. And your son shall return as well.”

  As if to prove her words, there were some hurried sounds in the corridor outside, and the next moment, Mrida’s son burst into the room.

  “Father!” he cried. The son and father hugged.

  “What happened to you?” Mrida asked.

  “The dogmen were beating up some cats in the street along which I had to come,” he explained, “and I had to wait and hide till they were done. The cats were beaten up badly, father. There was blood all about the street. And homes of some cats have been set on fire! Will they do the same to our home?”

  “They won’t,” I said. I was going to fix everything. I turned at Junaki.

  “You wanted to meet Amina, right?” I asked her sharply.

  She nodded with stone determination.

  “Then let me take you to her,” I said.

  ***

  The way to Amina’s residence was fraught with danger. Mrida’s son was right. Many homes were being lit, and cats were being beaten up. There was rampage everywhere. I wanted to go and help the cats, but I knew this was not the right moment. Thankfully it was just past midnight and quite dark, if for the flickering lights coming from distant homes set on fire. Amina’s residence was about five kilometres away and it took us about three hours to reach the place, so that the time we finally reached the outside of her residence, the darkness was lightening.

  Junaki, Riya and I had come as dogmen. I knew that asking for an appointment from the guards wouldn’t be quite an option. Besides the fact that it was unlikely for a dogman to have an appointment with a cat under house arrest in the very early hours of the morning. Plus the guards probably already knew the trick with which we had entered Meow’s mansion.

  “What do we do?” Riya asked me in a hushed tone. The guards were already casting suspicious glances at us, and I knew that very soon they would approach us asking our business. I thought fast, weighing our options. That we didn’t have a lot of options was actually helpful.

  “We kill them quietly,” I said. “No other way around.” The other two nodded.

  “Riya, I guess you know a few spells to attack from a distance?”

  “I can,” Riya replied, “but fire balls make quite some sound and a lot of spectacle.”

  “No, we need something quieter.”

  “Why don’t we just paralyse them and kill them?” Junaki suggested. “There are only three of them, each of us can paralyse one each.”

  “The paralysis spell requires a lot of mana,” Riya said, “and I am sure there are many more dogmen inside the palace.”

  I scratched my head. From the corner of my eyes I saw one of the guards taking a step towards us. There was no time.

  “I guess we’ll have to use swords and other spells with the guards inside,” I said. “For now, let’s go with paralysis.”

  We moved fast towards the guards.

  “What is your purpose—” I paralysed the guard before he could complete his question. As the other two frowned, Riya and Junaki paralysed them. We slit the throats of each of the guards.

  The three of us entered the premises of the palace. I just hoped nobody would come near to the gate of the palace. If they saw the corpses of the guards they would come to know everything.

  “Look there,” Riya said. She
pointed at a room in the second floor with her staff.

  There was an illuminated room there.

  “The princess?” I said with a raised brow. I couldn’t be sure though, it could be anybody. But as I observed the staff with which Riya pointed upwards, I couldn’t help but think something.

  Rupasur.

  We could definitely use him in the situation that we were in! Why hadn’t I thought of that before?

  I turned at Junaki, my eyes wide with a sudden surge of adrenaline as though I had uncovered the secret to the universe.

  “Darn it,” I said, “we can call Rupasur!”

  Junaki gaped.

  “Do it,” she said. I muttered the words Rupasur had told me to use to call him. The next moment there was a flash of light, and the next thing we knew was that the metal giant was standing right in front of us.

  But the metal giant had a frown.

  “Who are you?” he said, and from the rumble in his voice I wondered how many dogmen in the surrounding homes would wake up. I suddenly realised that the three of us had assumed the shapes of dogmen and there was no way for the giant to recognise us.

  “Have you done something to my master, Kitty?” Rupasur demanded, “If so, you shall perish!”

  And Rupasur raised his great foot that could crush anything.

  “No!” I cried out. “It’s me, your master! And could you speak in a lower voice?”

  “My master?” Rupasur’s foot stopped in mid-air, mere a metre or two above the three of us. He lowered his leg, not harming us.

  “Look,” I said. For a brief moment I deactivated the shape changing spell. Rupasur’s mouth fell open.

  “It is you!” he exclaimed.

  “Help us get to that room,” I said to him, pointing at the room above that was alit. Just then, one of the windows of the room opened. My heart froze. A head appeared there. It was Amina. My mouth felt dry as I took an uneasy glance at Junaki. But Junaki was staring fixedly at the love of my previous life.

  Chapter 36

  Amina’s eyes fell on the metal giant, and she seemed to exclaim with surprise. But when she looked down and saw me, she seemed to have understood everything. At that very moment, the main door of the palace opened and out poured at least ten dogmen.

  “Quick!” I said to Rupasur, “Help us get up to her,” I pointed to Amina. “And deal with the dogmen.”

  Rupasur grabbed Junaki, Riya and me. Amina backed away from the window and Rupasur hoisted us up and through the window we entered her chamber.

  The moment I was inside, Amina instantly threw her arms around me. I hugged her back, but when I saw Junaki staring vacantly at the two of us, I gently pushed Amina away.

  “I always knew you would return for me,” Amina said, tears streaming down her face.

  “Amina…” I said. I felt being at a loss for words. I looked from Junaki to Amina with uncertainty.

  “The bastard Meow betrayed you,” Amina continued, her face convulsing with emotions, “I heard he met with his death the other day. It was you right? You were able to take your vengeance. He deserved it.”

  He didn’t, I thought as Meow’s face appeared in my vision.

  Amina hugged me again. The entire night my objective had been to get to Amina’s palace, but I had never thought what I would actually do after I reached her palace.

  I pushed Amina away. She seemed to have understood that I did not want to hug her. And she frowned confusedly at me. Outside, I could hear the screams of the dogmen being killed by Rupasur.

  “Um, Amina, there is something I need to tell you,” I said, avoiding her eye. I glanced at Junaki, she seemed to understand that I required her help at this and she nodded.

  “Princess Amina?” Junaki said. Amina whirled around at her. “Kitty and I… we love each other.”

  “What are you saying?” Amina thundered at Junaki. “Kitty loves me, do you not Kitty? The last time you said you would return, that is the only reason I could tell myself to remain alive despite all the torture of the dogmen. What you said to me gave me hope and courage. What is she saying?”

  “Amina,” I sad, pursing my lips, “after I was killed and respawned, I could remember almost nothing about my previous life. Junaki has helped me a lot in this life.”

  “And didn’t I help you in your previous life?” Amina demanded, her lips were visibly shaking and she seemed to be at the point of breaking down.

  “You did, Amina, but…”

  Amina slumped down to the floor, clutching her head.

  I gathered my courage to tell her the final truth.

  “I have given my word to her, Amina,” I said.

  Amina began to sob. To my surprise, Junaki, suddenly came and placed a consoling hand on her shoulder.

  “You loved him before me,” Junaki said to her, “you have more right over him.”

  I frowned at Junaki. How could she say something like that?

  Amina however looked up at Junaki with a glare on her face.

  “What do you mean I have more right over him?” Amina lashed out, “You have already taken him away from me.”

  But right then, Amina’s door burst open. A guard came in, a smirk on his face. He carried a cross bow. And beside him was a monster: a three headed dog. As the guard let go of the dog’s leash, he also pulled the trigger of the cross bow.

  The arrow to me seemed like it was coming floating through the air, directly towards Amina’s head. I felt an extreme inability to do anything. Riya gaped, an expression of great bewilderment covering her wrinkles.

  But then, Junaki flung her arm in the way of the arrow. The arrow pierced into her flesh just below the elbow, even as she closed her eyes in pain. The arrow head came through the other side of her arm, stopping just a centimetre before Amina’s left eye.

  The three-headed dog threw itself at me. I leapt sideways, and just missed being bitten by its three jaws. It skidded on the floor and then regained its balance. But by now, I had drawn out my sword. The dog came to kill me again, but as it opened its three jaws, I hit one of its heads with my blade. It whimpered, backing in pain, as blood oozed out from the wound.

  “Back away!” Riya said to me. She made a motion with her hand. A jet of fire shot out and hit the monster, with such force that the monster was thrown upside down. From the corner of my eyes I meanwhile saw the guard lodge another arrow into his cross bow. I threw my sword at him. As my sword sailed towards him, his arrow sailed towards Amina. But Junaki was once again determined to save Amina, even if that meant she would die and she placed herself between the arrow and Amina. This time however Amina kicked Junaki’s leg, making her lose balance. The arrow missed Junaki, and instead hit Amina right on the chest. Meanwhile my sword lodged itself in the neck of the guard who fell backwards, gargling in his own blood.

  The monster tried to stand up. But Riya was ready. She shot another jet of arrow, hitting the monster’s three heads all at once. She maintained the jet of fire for a longer time, such that the monster’s flesh roasted. The monster fell down limp. It was dead.

  I sprang to Amina and took her onto my arm. She was trying to say something.

  “Kitty,” she croaked, her eyes watery, even as I opened my bag and searched for the health vials. But my hand was shaking so much that I could barely grasp any of the vials. “I love you…” she smiled, as I took out the vial and removed the cork, her eyes rolled towards Junaki, “but she loves you more.” I had barely put the vial to her lips when Amina went limp, her listless eyes fixed at Junaki.

  She was dead.

  Chapter 37

  Tears streamed down my face and I began to sob hard. Riya took the health vial from my hand and gave it to Junaki instead who had the arrow still lodged in her arm. I cried out. I couldn’t stop myself at all.

  It was a while before the sane part of my mind told me that there was nothing that I could do. I wiped my face. I pulled out the arrow from Amina’s chest. Riya had already closed Amina’s eyes. Junaki had taken out
the arrow from her arm and drunk the potion and she was now healing fast. I stood up.

  I lifted Amina and placed her on her bed which was in the other side of the chamber. I put a blanket over her. If one could ignore the blanket over her chest which were fast turning a shade of crimson, she almost looked like she was sleeping peacefully. Her face looked like that of an angel, her beauty radiating.

  I turned away from her face. I would always remember how beautiful she looked.

  “Come on,” I said to Junaki and Kitty, “we must go from here.”

  One by one Rupasur helped us out of the window and below. He had killed all of the guards— mercilessly. Limbs and heads were scattered all over the place. It was a revolting site even to me, who had killed so many dogmen without a thought during the attack over Duarga and even worn their tail to frighten them. But we could see that outside the premises of the palace, the doors of the houses were opening and dogmen and cats were coming out to see what was going on.

  “Where do we go now?” Riya asked.

  I knew well where we needed to go.

  “The Lair of the Lord,” I said. “But I don’t know how we’ll be able to travel over a hundred miles quickly.”

  “Um, can I say something?” Junaki asked. It was the first time she was speaking after Amina’s death. She had a guilty look on her face, maybe she blamed herself for what had happened. I wanted to console her, but I didn’t know how to. I hoped time would heal.

  “Go on,” Riya said.

  “After I saved Amina—” she said, then she seemed to bite her tongue and added quickly, “—from the first arrow, I levelled up. I received a new spell. One that could be used to make others and myself invisible. Maybe we can use that somehow. The spell does require some mana, but not a lot either.”

  My brain got to thinking fast. Invisibility would be a great thing. It would save us from being exposed to the dogmen, who would of course want to kill us the moment they see us. But… it would still not help us to travel the great distance to the Lair of the Lord quickly.

  And then my eyes fell on Rupasur. His legs were big. Heck, he could carry us all the way to the Lair. Yes, the dogmen would be able to hear him approach, from the sheer sound and vibrations that occurred every time he took a step. But with the invisibility spell they wouldn’t know anything about what was exactly happening!