#Finaleliterature

[saviorfoxowlis]

N:Era: Off the Track Part 8: Vixens, They Will Come and They Will Go

Part 8: Vixens, They Will Come and They Will Go

The spirits watched over. Merciless and enraging thoughts flowed through them, hoping they would finally smite their murderer. However, they could feel a tether, as someone pulled out and revealed their bones.

The tails came down and burned, and in their souls, they felt great warmth, a warmth that cauterized the wounds of hate. A blissfulness fell over them as spiritual power left their bones.

Several Thelosts had Vanos pinned down, but they released him, only having power based on misery.

Several passengers had injuries, a few wounds more severe than the rest, however, they were tended to by allies. Dires licked wounds, healing some of the cuts.

The main crimson floated in front of Cyras and said, "Thank you. You have finally found and purified my bones and now I am almost released from this curse.

"My true name is Sylvana. Finish this tale, please, bury me where my body won't be disturbed again. And, avenge us."

The three spirits faded away.

Rosod said, "Amazing. They took their grudge out on everybody, but at the end of the day, they’ve released their negativity by finding inner peace."

"Poetic, right?" Lilu asked Rosod.

Rosod's eyelashes fluttered as she said, "Yes."

Passengers began mumbling amongst themselves about what was next. Cyras jumped on the top of the train and said, "Everybody, please listen."

As she gathered their attention she said, "Look, nothing here went exactly how we thought, but now we can't go back. We can’t return but there is a way forward. That's how a train works." As she stumbled over her words, she tried to muster some inner positivity.

"Who can pilot the train?"

The Violet from the club car raised his hand. "I guess I can."

A couple of passengers began shouting over one another. "Who did this? Who was the murderer?"

"We got him right here," Rosod said, a Twayt in her grasp.

Cyras said, "I've got an idea..."

***

The door of the furnace room opened one last time.

Lilu entered.

Olivine said, trapped in coal, "I know I'm going to jail. However, I can explain, that what I was doing wasn't even wrong. You can't blame me for my grandfather's mistakes."

"You literally nearly got us all murdered, and for what? What was even the point of trying to mess with or disturb this spirit anyway? Do you still need revenge? You need spirit power?"

Olivine wasn't saying anything.

Lilu said, "Well, we can't let you leave with all of that dark magic in your book, and the spirit wanted payback."

"My grandfather is long dead."

Lilu opened the door as a sienna fox walked in. Lilu shut the door. Cyras licked her fangs while the Twayt took a few steps back into the corner. "I haven't eaten anything good this entire trip."

***

The club car brightened the mood with karaoke. Team N:Era, Baynana, and Rosod all took a turn.

Cyras said, "We know this hasn’t been a great night for anyone, but we’ve got a song for you. If you feel like you haven’t gotten what you wanted in life, or maybe you suffer from sour grapes, this is for you.”

Cyras and Rosod stood apart from each other, as Cyras put down the record.

Cyras began singing,

"I stand across the hall.

You say this isn't easy

But easy never felt as good,

You spoke and said some words that I had never heard."

Rosod tapped her thigh in beat.

"I only spoke the words

I felt that were the safest

But safety never felt so wrong

The chains I wrap around when I hold the key are binding."

The song was only building up, but Lilu stared at either girl, seeing the passion burning in Cyras' eyes. Both crimson and fox's voices fused.

"The sun arisen.

Shadows starker

Give me reason

Before you get darker."

Lilu sat back and sipped her tea.

Rosod said, "Well if you really need to know,

About time you started asking yourself

The reason why you ever even cared

When I see you're still playing me, like a game."

Cyras said, "Well if you really need to know

About time you started asking yourself

The reason why you ever even cared

When I see you're still playing me, like a game."

Ahmond and Baynana stared at one another. Ahmond said,

"The lies now bubbling

The truth has stewed

The pain is hobbling

The storm has brewed

“Well if you really need to know,

About time you started asking yourself

The reason why you ever even cared

When I see you're still playing me, like a game- and if you really need to know,

“About time you started asking yourself

The reason why you ever even cared

When I see you're still playing me, like a toy."

The next part was silent, just bass, but Cyras went off-script.

"Vixens come,

Vixens go

Yet I still look at you

And still I say what's wrong

Why can't you tell me what's wrong

You don't understand

I'm not trying to be cruel

I was only answering back when you poked me with your spikes."

The crowd began clapping, amazed at the emotion these two put into their performance, as Rosod glared icily.

"Well if you really need to know,

About time you started asking yourself

The reason why you ever even cared

When I see you're still playing me, like a game-"

Cyras said, her voice shivering in rage, "Yeah yeah yeah, well if you really really need to know

How about time you started asking yourself

The reason why you never never never even cared

When I see you're

STILL

Playing me

Playing me

Like a gaaaaaame!"

The audience applauded at the great performance, while Lilu had already left.

***

Upon exiting the train, Cyras put a coin in the slot. Then she dialed the number for Owlis.

Her eyes narrowed to pinpricks, catching Lilu and Ahmond's attention. They silently stood by her.

"I'm sorry," Cyras said before hanging up. "The palace was attacked, we need to get to a portal back to Lavandar as soon as possible."

Ahmond gasped. Lilu's said, "There are no portals from here to Lavandar. They kept collapsing. We'll have to take a train."

Ahmond and Cyras' ears flattened as they whimpered.

Lilu said, "I'm right! I'm not being a jerk. That's the only way."

"Should we get back on a train ever?" Cyras asked. "And why do the portals keep collapsing?"

Lilu said, "I assume if they knew they'd have fixed the issue."

Vanos walked up and said, "Ahmond, you should be coming with us, stop talking with your friends and get a move on."

"The palace was attacked," Ahmond told him.

Vanos' scanned the area for anyone listening in. He spoke quieter. "You mean Owlis' palace?"

Cyras said, "She wasn't clear on any details, so I assume she wants everything as private as possible. Not even people over the phone can hear us. She also said ‘keep the situation as quiet as possible.’ Officially, the palace had a gas leak and blew up."

"Blew up," Ahmond said, "wow."

Baynana said, "That's amazing."

"I'm not gonna jump this time," Lilu said, "honestly her stealth is awesome. Better than Cyras."

"No, she's not," Cyras said, behind Lilu.

Lilu jumped back. "What the- you were in my sight this entire time, how'd you sneak up on me."

"Speak about my stealth again, I dare you," Cyras said. She shook her head. "Anyway, fine, but the train trip better be short."

Lilu said, "Yeah, a couple of cities away, there should be a portal that should get us to Glacialane. Then we can take that to Lavandar."

Cyras said, "Only a couple of cities away, great..."

Lilu said, "You know what really gets me about that whole trip is we never got an answer from Olivine as to why he was collecting spirit's essence. We also aren't sure about the identity of that other twayt he was within his vision."

Cyras shrugged, as she knew the identity they should be seeking was someone who mattered, the attacker of the palace. She sat by a bench that Rosod was at while Lilu got their tickets.

About to open her mouth, Baynana popped up next to her and said, "Oh here's a comic. Rosod really liked this."

Cyras' eyes narrowed but she took the comic and read through. "I didn't like this."

"Oh well, this really picks up next chapter."

"That's great."

"I think this is a good comic."

"I'm glad you had fun. I just don't find this story to be very interesting."

"You can't judge something by only one chapter."

"The story has to fight to keep me," Cyras said.

Baynana puffed out her cheeks and walked away.

"I can't believe you did that," Rosod said. "I wasn't able to shake her off at any rate."

"Yeah. Well, she has to learn to respect your choices," Cyras said, before giving a more hopeful look at the weasel. "So, I'm sorry about what I said on the train."

"Yeah. Anyway, Baynana's pretty annoying."

"I don't think so."

"You think?"

"No of course not," Cyras said. "I have the same passion for stuff, and mine takes me on day-long spirals. So, are we cool?"

Rosod said, “I'll be real with you. My life's not very easy, just like Lilu’s. My parents aren't terrible. They're doing their best. And school isn't terrible, but everything's catching up."

"I never knew that. I guess that's why you're so-”(mean, crude, and rude,)“-critical."

"I wake up and want to go straight back to sleep. A lot’s happened from this entire year that I've known you, and this isn't all your fault. Just that I need some time to process all that’s happened. Imagine having a sprain that you never healed from because you had to keep walking on a forced march."

Cyras said, "I had some idea that, well,” she would invite Rosod to be a member of Team N:Era, but realized that would overwhelm her. “Yeah, you should figure something out in your life. Take back control.” She put on a smile.

Rosod's mood darkened visibly as her eyes became glossy.

"Ever since I lied for money, my parents have frozen me out. Good thing I saved up my allowance, because, I’m not comfortable telling you more but please just keep one secret.”

Cyras said, "Anything."

“You better be sure.”

“Yes.”

"I'm running away."

Cyras stared at Rosod’s satchel and then at her face. "Oh, I see. Take these with you." She gave Rosod the bones of Sylvana, and she put them with her books.

"Thanks. I have to thank you because you inspired me. I know you stood up to Ryvoh.” Well not exactly. “And you left, as did Lilu with her mom. I guess that works. About time I take my leave." The weasel girl stood up and walked away.

Cyras sat on the bench, numb. A lot was happening this year in her life. Everything went off the track.

Thank you for being part of the finale.