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Kata was some way away from the cave now. She had lured three of the rades easily and now that they were far away from Io they could see her. Kataio did everything from climbing trees to moving up steep hillsides.

I wasn't planing on going so far. Terawl... where am I? She dared to look behind her and the three rades still following with re-newed strength at her faltering steps. Must still be weaker then I thought. This place will kill me yet. Not now though, not now.

The rades had gained some ground up the hill having better balance up the steep edge. Kata shuddered as she felt that she was only heading to a worse danger up ahead. She came over the ridge immediatly pulling out her sword. Her body quivered as she moved further away from the edge. Could she take on three rades at her strength level? She had no coice there was no where else to go.

An icy breath floated down her spin and she closed her eyes. "Give me strength Tynan. Watch my back, for this land gives none that it takes." Her eyes fluttered open standing ready as the first rade came snarling p the edge of the ridge, the other two flowwing closely behind.

How many times have I been just as the rades. Think like them, not like prey and you will live. Remember your training and you will live. She pushed her sunglasses higher and the first of the rades attacked. Kata had anticipated and dodged swinging her sword down missing the rade by inches.

The looked at her in a new light, and looked at each other silently planning an attack. She watched them all in turn. The icy breath again floating down her spine. Not now Tynan, not now. I must live, I must help rebuild this land. This land will rebuild my torn soul, I know it! She slowly qruirked a smirk on her face and calmed her anxious breathing.

Her eyes now only for the rades, and theirs only for her. All three attacked viciously, sometimes getting bitten or scratched by their fellow rades. Kata had a number or scratches about her arms and a few on her back, but she dealt the first deadly blow. As one rade had her leg she stuck her sword into the gut of the rade about to pounce on her shoulders. It whimpered and the other two faltered for a moment and Kataio kicked the rade off her leg only to stumble backwards.

The rades had thought that they had won this. Revenge for their friends death was swiftly coming. Kataio breathing hard and fairer skinned yet then normal, prayed for a swift death.

"Now that would hardly be worth the trip out her Kat, now wouldn't it?" Kataio raised her eyes into the sunlight, she had lost her sunglasses some time during the fray. The rades had also turned their heads to the new comer.

He was a lith figure, hardly looked as strong as he was. A chill came over the air as he walked closer. The rades snapped at the loss of playing with their first toy, but now they could have two, one for each. Their tounges lolled about, muzzles lightly splattered with Kata's blood.

Kataio tried to lift herself to her feet, the rades didnt' bother looking back at the useless female, she didn't make it and feel down again. That moment her sword dissappeared for a moment, returning to to Kata's hand but to Tynan's.

"My lovelies your deaths will be sweet." Tynan smiled cruelly as he walked up to the quickly advancing rades and dodged their first attacks. He swiped Kata's sword and cut the soulder of the first rade. They came again frothing for a kill. Kataio's blood, and dieing scent leading them further into animalistic madness. Tynan remaind cool and seperated the two on either side of a large rock. "One," He swiped cutting the firsts leg. "Two," He lifted the sword as the second rade tried to pounce from the top of the rock, sticking it through the muzzle. "Three," He said finally as he pulled the sword out quickly bringing it down on the last rades neck, creating a clean cut straight through.

The air got colder, faltered then went back to normal. Tynan showed his tiredness finally and stumbled back to Kata. She looked up half way asleep, half way dead. She saw her own blood out on the feild along with the rades, and she wretched to the side. Am I really hurt that badly. She thought as she gulped down any food that was left in her stomach.

"Let's get you back to my base. I never really let you go, you were never alone." Tynan lifted her and took her off to where he has been staying since they had landed. He had hid away inside Ice and Trin's ship, and unlike some never showed himself until now. He would clean Kata up, who had fallen asleep in his arms on the way back to his base, let her rest then... then he would bring her back. But I will not stay. Only Kata will know about me for now. I'm not ready to be seen.

Tynan had brought Kata back she was sleeping soundly, though that might have to do with her weakened status. Not only was she so far away from home, but she hadn't been taking her doses of medicine. No doubt this was because she had to get her bag back to take it. Ever since they were young, Kataio, Kya, Tynan and David were submitted to testing. They had been powerful as it was but as they are with the enhancements now they were something even more frightening.

Kataio, though fond of her power over lightening, was trained in air magic. She often felt that her power was lesser then that of her peers. Often she would team up with the others to creat a vicious elemental storm. Tynan and Kata always had worked together the best throwing ice shards about as if they were thousands of frozen arrows.

Tynan put Kataio down gently on his bed roll and started to see to her wounds. She had started to twitch lightly on the last stretch, just as the woods got thicker, but lucky for Tynan they had been only a few steps away. Her brow was dampened with sweat andsmall tears ran from her eyes.

Kata was dreaming Tynan knew that, and to stop that would prove wrose then letting the dream continue. So he continued to rip strips of cloth, dabbing them in ointment and rubbing her sores.

She was alone in the forest of her world, not too much different then that of the mask planet. Kata wandered through it absently, having spent most her life in one area or another of these woods. This dream had always started the same, peaceful.

Kataio danced about the woods too young to care bout what was going outside her forest home. She would grow into the powers her parents had borne her to. She stopped at the edge of a small lake fed by a steam. Her laughing always stopped quickly when she made it that far.

The other kids saw her enter the clearing around the lake and quickly left, they didn't acept her, they didn't like her and they never played with her. All Kataio could do was sigh andcontinue on. Her parents were always away on business and even her nanny didn't like to stick around for too much time, usually just meals.

She gazed down at her reflection in the lake. "I will get out of here. I will meet people." She smiled down at her sad face, turning to dance back a little way onto shore. For someone so alone she always had a bright side. "I will make mommy and daddy proud. I know it!"

Rain came quickly, but it never bothered her. She turned back to the woods where she heard a sound and there was a man standing there. "Come, come and I will give you what you want. I will give you power beyond that of any other. Come and I will make your dreams truth." And as every other time she couldn't help but follow this man, this terrible man.

The dream spun and contorted, sounds of pain body and soul peirced the darkness. Crying, slowly turned to wimpers, and from the wimpers to sharp breaths and muttered words. Her words had come out quiet as usual, "Why?... Why... me?" Never an answer.

Her head pounded as they set her loose in a large room. There were others, she could tell by the sounds. Years of being alone had taught her to leave them be and she went off away from the sounds. She hadn't expected to run into anyone, let alone a boy older then her, no about the same age. He sat ther watching, expecting something, something that she recieved too often.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean-" She had cut herself off and ran away only to be tripped by a snake, a very large snake. It's eyes held her and she screamed. Just as it was about to take a bite into her, the snake froze, jaw still unhinged. Smaller snakes swarmed about and the others had come to the screams. They all killed a number of snakes, except Kata, and thus her fear began.

The dream shifted again this time years after they all first met. They were free again, all the kids that were stolen away, well at least they weren't kids anymore. Kya had learned how to make the drug they now needed to live and distributed it evenly through them for supplies.

There was a light flash and a shot of pain drew up Kata's leg. She looked up to see Tynan. Terawl she loved Tynan, but why was he doing this to her. She looked down at her hand, he was freezing it to the ground. She wanted to tell him to stop, but all she could do was shake her head her mouth hanging open. He smirked at her cruelly, as if they had always been fighting, as if he didn't care.

He froze everything below her shoulders to the ground then knelt beside Kata. He brushed some of her silvery hair away from her face. His slate blue eyes gazed into hers for a moment, then he left. Only seconds later Kataio was recaptured and it wasn't Tynan who saved her, but the rest.

Kata kept the secret of her capture from the rest and saw Tynan on occasion, but they were never that close again. Tynan had betrayed her, Tynan had left her for them defenseless. The others worried because Kataio and Tynan were always together, thinking that the other was the only one who could understand what they were going through. Now Kata couldn't look at him without her heart breaking, now she couldn't live with the thought that he had tried to kill her in the slowest way.

They got into many fights, even as he tried to explain what had happened that night she was taken away. The wound was always too sore, even when they were fighting on the same side. Their attacks were weaker, and when ever close together while fighting they had eyes watching for the others attack as much as the enemy.

Katio was on her own. She ran off to be alone again, no one could hurt her then. Her life was next to meaningless as she roamed the forests. Kata couldn't take the pain and saddness anymore and her dream shifted. It showed quickly how she met Ice and Trinnie, getting on the ship, and the trials she had faced so far on the mask planet.

The dream stopped suddenly again at the picture of Tynan standing there attacking the rades. Why had he helped her, why had he come here to Masquerade? She wouldn't know until she woke up. So, she willed herself awake.

There was a sudden gasp for breath when Kata awoke. She had only been sleeping for a few hours, but it seemed like forever to her as usual. Tynan was sitting not too far away against the wall of his make-shift hut. It was well made but small, perfect for a hideout. She looked over to him coldly, why did he always have to play with her emotions.

Kata had rested for some time to awake to Tynan sitting there. Cockie as ever, he is. She pushed herself up, muscles protesting the movement. Not only had she run a far distance from the cave, but she had also fought off three rades long enough to have Tynan save her.

His eyes flicked over her body for a moment before he decided to help her sit up. She wouldn't appreciate it but they both knew she was in no condition to protest. Her pulled her into his arms lending an icy touch to the sorest parts of her body.

Her mouth twitched between a frown and a smile. Kataio rested her head on Tynan's chest, as she closed her eyes. No matter the betrayal, he still held her close, he still was with her. That was the reason she couldn't hate him, but Terawl if he could make up his mind as to wether he hated or loved her.

Tynan's hand lifted and brushed a hair out of her tearing eyes. Ice had formed over one tear rolling down her cheek and he lifted it off. "Don't cry you are safe now. You aches will cease soon, just relax Kataio."

Kata shifted so her eyes looked up into his. "I hate you." Her face twisted for a few moments and then she turned away not able to lie to his face any longer.

"I know... I know..." Tynan rocked her as he held Kata close and rubbed her back soothingly.

More time passed and Kata had calmed herself. "Well I guess we might as well get this over with Tynan." She moved slowly over and rolled on to her stomach. "It's been awhile so you will have to give me a direct shot." It's been more then awhile. I can't believe that I have gone this long without having a break down before this.

Tynan said nothing as he reached into his bag pulling out a large needle. He brushed her shirt up and out of the way revealing a metal circle in the base of her spine just above her waist band. Usually it hurt to place the needle in, but when Tynan did this for her he always froze the spot. He rubbed the circle slowly cooling it only slightly, as not to damage nerves or skin tissue around the hole. He took up the liquid into the needle looking at the volume then asked, "When was the last time you had your shot?"

"I..." How long have we been here... It feels like such a long time. Kata figured about a week and a half to two weeks. "Well.... I think that it has been two weeks."

Tynan took a sharp breath of air in. No one had gone that long without their shot. They started to get weak after half a week, and often it would cause them to become disoriented, depressed and worst of all their bodies started to deteriorate. He dropped the needle beside himself and rolled her over shaking her slightly. "What the name of Terawl where you thinking?"

"I have been busy ok? Just stick me with the needle and let's get this over with. Obviously you haven't changed and don't really want me around." Her words were colder the Tynan's touch.

He barely bit back a retort shoving her down placing one hand above the now warmed metal circle to hold her down. He cooled it slightly but not enough to freeze most of the nerves, so when he had slid the needle into place Kata closed her eyes tightly and choked on a scream. The serum was bad enough it burned like fire through her blood, but Tynan's added pressure and lack of freezing didn't help.

Kata's body shuddered and her skin went paler yet then normal. Not a normal thing to happen to most, but Kata had always been slightly different. Tynan slid the needle out a little more carefully this time. She got up immediately and shoved past Tynan. She had been dizzy and clammered to the closest tree. Soon after that she had wretched what little stomach contents she had left onto the forest floor.

Tynan came back and watched her rise wiping her mouth clean, still noticably shaking and her eyes fogged over. She looked back at him and tried to find the strength to swear, but nothing came as the blackness covered her eyes. Tynan took the quick strides needed to catch her and brought her into the hut again.

"You don't have to say it Kat. I know from your eyes, no matter how fogged and far off they were." He filled a small bag with a bunch of the potion for Kata to take back with her. "I'm a b*****d, a cheat, and cod hearted." He touched his chest with a wicked grin. "In more then one way. Retour à moi, Kataio." He brushed her hair out of her eyes again and lifted her into his arms sac slung over his shoulder.

She had been easy for him to carry through the path to the home base site. He had been this way many times to watch the goings on, and watch for Kataio to appear. He was giving her up into the hands of her friends, or at least he hoped they were friends.

He placed her just inside the clearing and looked around. He couldn't see anyone at this moment, so he did the only thing he could think of. He froze the ground within the site leaving the only unfrozen path leading toward Kata. Then he climbed into the thickest near-by tree and yelled out, "Help over here!!"

(after Verran left her inside the house)

Kata had slowly pulled herself into the waking world. She heard sounds, or thought she did around the house she had been placed in. Every muscle in her body ached as she struggled to keep her eyelids open. Her body shivered as she looked down across her bloody clothes.

Damn Tynan didn't bother to mention to anyone that while I was out I needed to be stretched. I've been through worse though, I think... She focused on her breathing, which was very laboured due to muscle cramping. Her back was full of knots and she decided it was best just to get it over with.

Kata rolled her legs off the bed and bit back a whimper of pain due to massive charlie-horses. She managed to sit herself up and look down at her hands, Kataio noticed that her skin was not only paler then normal but also a slight bit more yellow. Serves me right for being a fool. I wish the others were here to help with the trasition stage.

She tried pushing herself back up and onto her feet and failed miserablely. Kata fell face first with a thud onto the ground cracking her nose, which then started to bleed out a yellow orange blood. Terawl... I can't believe that I am this weak. She placed a fist quickly under her nose trying to stop the light bleeding.

Kata cursed again and started to drag herself to the door. Pushing herself off the door frame she lifted herself leaning against the wall. Her breathing heavy and her sliver hair matted into loose dread-locks, here eyes no longer a vibrant silver but a dull grey. Her head swam and she felt as if the world were crowding her.

Kataio's stomach twitched. Tynan you b*****d... you knew that I would need help more then a warm bed. She stumbled and fell again as she tried to take another step. Kata swore silently to herself as she continued to bleed leaving a trail of blood drips behind her as she crawled to the washroom and wretched into the tub, since it was closest.

Please Terawl give me some hope at least. Her body convulsed as she dry heaved, sweat dripping from her burning body.