Heatwaves (11) : An unfortunate dry spell has come over Destiny City, and a heat wave has made it all but unbearable. The heatwave is only projected to last for a week but it’s been rough. Plants are wilting, people are wilting. The city is experiencing blackouts, which isn’t helping. Thankfully, the reservoir is always open. Just, crowded. It might just be the worst part of the summer. People are passing out regularly, and the hospitals are getting too many admissions to keep up with. It’s probably just the heat and not anyone up to anything nefarious, right? Better stay hydrated and try to keep cool, and maybe avoid everyone in weird costumes, just in case.
Drew faltered in his steps. This oppressive heat reminded him of his homeworld of Etamin. No, actually, it was worse. He actually felt dizzy and had to sit down. "I'm sorry, I can't take the heat of your fur against my face, could you please, just this once, get off my shoulder?" Dari nodded and jumped off, worried about his Daddy, who promptly passed out. Daddy's whole family had already done the same. Dari's fur was kept trimmed short, so at least that kept him somewhat cool, but he was already feeling dizzy. His communicator, which he actually built correctly (albeit with some help) was actually on the frizz from the heat. He set the useless thing down next to a random Star Charm that was just sitting there on the boards of the porch for no good reason.
So, none of his regular team could help, and he couldn't call for backup. He'd have to do this on his own. How was a little kitten supposed to save the world anyways?
Well, first he drank all the water in his water bowl - which wasn't much - the plumbing had gone down in the last few hours as well. This had to be the work of a youma - he could sense the youma somewhere near in his whiskers.
He made his way out the cat door. It was too hot... like waves of heat settling down on him, soo heavy. He wanted to just set down and go to sleep, but no, he had to go on. The ground was burning his paws, but he continued to make his way to the sewers, where he sensed the creature. Once down there, he realized, there was not just one but many youma doing this - to extract energy from all beings. And he saw many young feral kittens (non-Mauvians) who had managed to escape here from the heat, except that it was worse here.
They were all confused and scared, and they started mewing. Dari was scared as well, but he hid his fear and purred softly to calm them all down - if just to keep the youma from discovering them. Finally, they quieted down.
Darius made some observations and realized that the creatures were made from sand, and if they were doused with a large amount of water - they should be destroyed - or dusted. He looked around at the sewer, found not even an inch of moisture - the youma had repelled every inch of it and indeed maneuvered even the sewer pipes to hold it back in cramped areas. If he was somehow able to release the water, that should do the work - although he wasn't relishing the thought of all of that water coming at him and soaking his fur - and the thought of it being sewer water was worse.
But how would he do it? He was just one tiny Guardian Kitten and there were 5 gates that even Daddy would have trouble with. However, then he saw the feral kitten... it just might work - but it might be like herding chickens too. Hmm.
He mewed to get their attention, and they all stared at him. Somehow, he communicated to them that he needed their help. It was like a modern-day Human child attempting to ask Niedenthal children for help. Somehow, he seemed to get their agreement, and he led the way.
He had to give constant, extremely basic instructions, and it was incredibly frustrating - but they got the first gate open. Nasty water rushed out and flooded a big group of the youma, turning them to dust. It was too soon to celebrate as he and the feral kittens were now also soaked with nasty water running through their matted fur (at this the feral kittens started mewing once more), AND another group of the monsters swung their heads (if you could call them heads) towards Dari and the feral kittens.
Dari knew they had to move fast, and he mewed out some more basic orders, but with a degree of urgency. Quickly, they opened the next few gates, and each time, youmas were dusted, all the kittens were soaked with more sewer water, and more youma came on the attack.
There was just one more gate, and then... the last youma came up to attack - and this one was much larger than the others. The levers to open the gate were rotted through, and it look like they weren't going to get it open in time. Dari jump down, still calling orders, and bit the nasty creature. Bleah. Of course, it would taste terrible - but it was enough to get its attention off the feral kittens and onto Dari. When the creature tried to attack him, he nimbly dodged out of the way. He kept it up for a few minutes but was starting to slow when the feral kittens manage to succeed in getting the gate open.
The youma was dusted, and the heatwaves vanished. Immediately a cool wind took their place- and Dari and the feral kittens were nearly chilled to the bone in all of that sewer water on their way to their various homes.