ade stood and locked the door after Kat had left. She then gathered the amulets and put them all in a bag. She then changed into a full cat, grabbed the bag deftly in her mouth and jumped off her balcony into the gardens. She quickly and quietly left the gardens and her estate to a special place her father had shown her, the place where he had asked her mother to be his mate. A place that only she knew about. When she arrived their she changed back to her normal form and hid the amulets. She went to leave straight away but found herself drawn to stay. She sat down cross legged and closed her eyes. Eventually, when the sun was no longer warming her back she moved. She petted the ground fondly and said her thanks before she once again changed form and headed back to her room.

Jade had changed for the evening and as per usual Sable came to escort her to dinner.

"Before we leave Sable, I have something to tell you." Sable looked at Jade carefully trying to read her face. "Nothing that serious. I just wish to inform you that you are relieved off your consort duties."
"I don't know what to say."
"Say you will ask Kat to be your mate."
Sable's mouth opened and shut several times as if he went to say something and then thought better off it. Jade laughed teasingly.
"Thank you." Sable eventually said.
"Your welcome, now shall we go, I'm famished."

The time passed quickly and uneventfully as it drew near to the time Kat would be returning home. Sable, Kat, Amber, Slate, Coal and Emerald where gathered in the library which Jade had guarded. They waited patiently and then as expected, at the appointed time Kat vanished. They waited in silence for her to return. Half an hour passed, then an hour before Kat finally returned. Her tail hung low in a defeated position.

"I'm sorry, we did everything we could but there was no way to set up the cross-dimensional phone line. So the best we good do was arrange another time. We agreed on two weeks."

There was much chat about this, and many questions asked but eventually it was concluded that all they were doing were talking in circles. Eventually they bid farewell to Slate and Amber. Jade said she would have a bath and then go to bed. Sable said he would walk Kat through the gardens. The group broke up. Jade headed to her room, observed she noticed by Emerald.

"Oh Emerald, would you mind drawing my bath?" Jade asked innocently.
"Certainly. Anything else?"
"No that will be all." Jade responded. They reached her rooms and Jade brushed her hair as Emerald filled the bath. Emerald didn't leave until Jade got into her bath, much to Jade's annoyance. Several minutes after Emerald had left Jade got out of the bath and locked the door. She then quickly dried herself and dressed before heading to her balcony. Again, changing shape she leapt off the balcony and then found Sable and Kat.

"So that's how you have been sneaking off." Sable mused as Jade resumed her form.
"You've been aware of my sneaking off?" Jade asked in shock.
"For a little while. But I couldn't work it out."
"Why not?" Kat asked. "I mean I know the balcony is high but surely with your superior jumping skills that isn't an issue."
"We me be able to jump high but not that high. I'm only able to do so in full cat form."
"Oh."
"Anyway, how did you go."
"Well. We set up the phone line which is in use now."
"Does that mean they can hear us."
"Well yes and no. We set it up so that they can only hear after a certain word is said. After all I didn't want them to hear everything." Kat looked at Sable and then blushed. Jade kept her smile hidden.
"How about the amulets?"
"A bit more of a problem. We found them, but the council of Magic have them and it would take a fair bit to convince them why we would need them."
"We can work that out later. Well I better go, Emerald was watching me before."

With that Jade left as quietly as she arrived. Sable reached out and drew Kat closer.
"So... They can't hear us right?" Sable said with a soft purr. Kat purred in response.

***

Jade looked over the gardens from her balcony. The traitor in their midst had been clearly smart enough to keep their nose clean. Nothing had happened in the last couple of days to give any indication of subterfuge. Jade sighed. She knew she was going to have to offer some bait. So she had seen Slate and they came up with a plan. She really didn't like it. He had agreed without hesitation. She was honoured that he trusted her so much, but she couldn't get over this sense of foreboding. Jade took one last look at the gardens and then headed off to find Sable.

"There's been a problem." Jade said softly. "Gather the group."

Sable nodded without so much as a raised eyebrow, but Jade knew he was wondering what was going on. It was not long before Sable returned with Kat, Coal and Emerald.

"What's wrong?" Coal asked, getting straight to the point.
"I sent Slate on a mission and I haven't heard from him. He had gone to Dirtharnith to inform some of the rebellion members to prepare for a three pronged attack on the council." "How long has he been out of contact."
"Only a day but it's really unlike him. I wish to plan a rescue mission. We need to leave tomorrow. Lady Snow has agreed to hold a ball in two nights time. So I will need Sable and Emerald. Kat will attend to as Sapphire. Coal, I need you to stay behind. We will formulate a plan on the way. Now go pack, we leave at first sun." Jade then quickly rose and swept out of the room.

They set of at first sun, Jade aware that for once Coal had not complained about being left behind. By high sun they expected to reach the border. Jade contained her fidgeting as she believed they would not reach the border to Dirtharnith. She was proven right shortly after. The carriage stopped and there was sounds of fighting. Jade held on to Kat's hand, aware that Sable was outside. The fighting stopped and time seemed to pause. The door to the carriage was flung wide open causing Jade to flinch at the sudden movement. Emerald stood and gracefully stepped out of the carriage, helped by Coal. Jade and Kat followed, without any help.

"Well Emerald, I see you finally have played your hand." Jade said as she looked around. Sable was being held by three guards. Jade's driver was dead as were several other of her guards. Not without having taken out several of Emerald's army.
"I guess I shouldn't be surprised that you worked it out."
"No. What I don't understand is why."
"Because you stole my life!" Emerald said, almost spitting on Jade. "Your father was my father and yet he raised you like a Princess and I was raised to be your servant. He never loved me, never doted on me. So I was to be your maiden and watch you live the life I deserved and never got. You robbed me of that."
"He didn't know about you. Your mother never told him."
"You lie!" Emerald cried.
"No Emerald. I know my father, he did not know. And you are wrong, he did love you, but you had him killed didn't you. That ambush, that was your doing."
"Yes, it was me."
"Why didn't you have him questioned?"
"Because then he would have died a martyr. We never expected you to take over the rebellion."
"No, I guess not." Jade mused then turned to Coal, "And why have you betrayed me?"
"Because you will never love me. You love with a fire and I've burned for you but you feel nothing for me."

Jade looked at Coal in pity but could say nothing. She turned and nodded to Kat who was still standing beside her. She nodded.

"Cloak of stars!" Kat said loudly, "Now Lex, NOW!"

With that Kat quickly took hold of Jade and they vanished from sight. Emerald screamed in frustration and stamped her foot. She then spun on her heel and faced Sable.

"You knew about this, you had to have known and I will make you tell me everything." She said with a nasty glint in her eyes.

***

Jade landed with a thud. It took her a few moments to focus and to be aware that Kat was asking if she was all right.

"Yes, I think I'm okay." Jade said, accepting Kat's offering hand and getting up off the ground. She looked around and saw two men, that looked as Kat had when she first saw her, no fur, tail or other cat like features.
"Is that a Darryl?" Jade asked, pointing to Lex.
"No, that's Lex, that is Darryl."

Jade nodded shyly to them both, feeling out of place in this strange world. They too seemed to be looking at her.

"Fascinating," said Darryl.
"Hush, no time for that now. We have to save Sable."
"And Slate," Jade added.
"I have put in a formal request to the council of magic for the amulets they still hold, stating I want to investigate them for a new paper on ancient magic. I got word from a collegue of mine there that they have approved the application, though I have yet to receive it in writing, of course."
"Being a trusted schollar does have its advantages," Kat teased. "Guess they didn't know that you aquired the other "missing" amulets through less legal means."
"Hush, you'll damage my reputation!" exclaimed Lex.
Kat simply laughed.
"How are we going to rescue the others?" Jade questioned.
"Well - Lex, how do you feel about being a feline?"
"A challenge - how exciting! I suppose Darryl will be staying here?"
"Yes. We need you to work the teleport, Darryl, if that's ok, and to keep an ear out for a shout from us."
"Also, you'll need to keep an eye open for my letter from the Council, and go down there to collect the amulets for me, when the permission comes through."
"Right," agreed Darryl. "Will they release them to me?"
"Yes, just take my seal. I never bother going down there to collect the artifacts myself."
"Right. Lex, how's your transmutation? Want me to do it?"
"Please."
Kat murmured, and a few moments later, a distinguished looking tuxedo cat, with just a hint of grey appearing around his muzzle and ears.
"Mmm," purred Jade. "What a very handsome gentleman."
Lex's tail lifted proudly off the floor.
"Right then. Are we ready?"
"Uh - what exactly is it that we'll be doing?"
"Well, Darryl will return us to the place where he collected us. Amber was leaving about an hour after us, so she should arrive shortly after our return. You'll go with her into Dirtharnith to look for Slate, while Jade and I follow the tracks to wherever Sapphire and Coal have taken Sable. We'll all meet back at Jade's estate to perform the recombination ritual."
"I assume this Amber knows what this Slate looks like?"
"Yes, that's not a problem."
"Wonderful then. Let's go. Mr Ross, if you could do the honours?"
Darryl nodded, and they vanished.

Lexcie shook his head and looked around.
"How remarkable. It looks almost exactly like home, doesn't it? The countryside I mean, of course, not the cities."
"Yes, the worlds are remarkably similar," Kat agreed. "You shouldn't have too much difficulty fitting in, as long as you remember your tail."
"My tail? Oh, yes, of course! Is that Amber's car approaching?"
"Car?" Jade queried.
"Oh - no cars, Lex. No phones or microwaves either. Think medieval, and you'll be about right."
"Oh - wonderful. Horse and cart, I take it?"
"Carriage, if you please."
"What an adventure!"
Amber's carriage soon appeared over the crest of the hill, and she had shortly stopped beside them. In no time at all, Lex had been introduced, and was settled in with Amber and her handmaiden, Peridot. He waved to them as they continued on their way, and Kat smiled. As soon as they were out of sight, however, she turned to Jade.
"Right, how are we going to find him?"

Jade and Kat lay in the damp undergrowth, peering out at the small cottage. They had followed the tracks with ease, though it had still taken them all afternoon to find the building. They hadn't been able to see Sable anywhere within the building from their hiding places, but they had caught sight of Coal.
"How are we going to get him out?"
"I do have an idea."
"What's that?"
"Well... I take you to Darryl now, come back, make myself invisible, go in, find Sable, and get Darryl to take us both, and then transfer all three of us to the room."
"That sounds too simple."
"Yes, it is. I'm not sure how I'm going to manage to mask my scent, and they'll probably smell me."
"That I can help with, if you can provide a little fire."
"Of course. What are you going to do?"
"Burn this."
"What's that?"
"Catnip. It'll mean that even if they do smell you, they'll be far more interested in this."
"Fantastic. There is one other problem though."
"What's that?"
"Invisibility is outwards-magic. I can't mask it or muffle it, and it'll be very noticable."
"Ah. Oh well. Soon it won't matter anyway, huh?"
"Right. Let's do it, then. Hang in there, Sable, only twenty minutes more."
Kat and Jade lit the catnip, and shortly afterwards, vanished.

Lex and Amber reached Dirtharnith as the sun set, and were soon settled into an inn.
"Now, how do we go about finding this Sable?"
"Well, the first step is to send a message to his accommodation, and see if he managed to evade capture."
"Right, how do we do that?"
"I've already done that," Amber replied. "Now we just have to wait for an answer. In the mean time, shall we have some dinner?"
"Oh. Alright."

Amber opened the note, and frowned.
"What is it?" Lex asked, excitedly.
"Well, he's evaded capture, but he's holed up, and can't get out, or they'll get him."
"Can we get in?"
"We could, but that doesn't solve the problem of him getting out. Or that of us getting out afterwards."
"Just you leave that up to me," Lex replied with a wink.
Amber looked at him for a long moment.
"Okay then. Peridot, prepare the carriage."

Slate and Amber looked around them in astonishment. Lex and Amber had arrived at Slate's accommodation, and strolled inside, while Peridot returned the carriage to the inn. They had casually strolled into Slate's room, greeted him, and then Lex had, after apologising for the liberty he was about to take with them both, placed a hand on each of their arms, and said, "Cloak of Stars, Mr Ross, if you please." The next thing they knew, they were in a very strange room, with odd looking furniture, and a surprised-looking Jade, drinking tea with a young man, who didn't have any fur, ears, tail, or anything!
Amber whimpered and took a step back, and Jade stood.
"Amber, Slate, it's ok. This is Darryl. He's a human."
"Well, what am I then?" Lex asked, indignantly. "Is Kat here too? Have my amulets arrived?"
"Yes, I picked them up this afternoon. Kat went to collect her Masters students. I figured we'd need them."
"Ah, good," Lex replied, his tail swishing back and forth in a satisfied manner.
The door opened, and Kat entered the room, followed by her two students - Sarah and Darren.
"Oh," Kat exclaimed. "Well, a few more than I expected, but never mind."
Kat observed Amber's frightened expression, and turned to her students.
"Could the two of you perhaps take Amber into my office and learn about each other in there?"
"Of course," Sarah said instantly. "Miss Amber, would you come this way?"
Amber shot a frightened glance at Jade, who nodded reassuringly, then followed the two young humans into Kat's office.
"Slate, you're coping quite well."
"It's shock," he replied, dryly. "There I was, holed up in my room, unable to leave, when Amber and this dashing gentleman strolled in without a care in the world. Then, before I knew what was happening, he'd taken hold of my arm, and we were here. It's more than an little bewildering, but I'm going with it."
Kat's attention turned to Lex.
"Ah, she notices me! My body back, if you please."
"Of course, sorry, Lex."
Kat returned him to his human form, causing Slate further astonishment.
"Well, that is a different look!"
"Do you like it?" Lex flirted, turning. "Not as distunguished, perhaps, but I like it."
"I think it's quite distinguished," Jade answered. "Not what we are used to, but quite attractive, in your own way."
Lex preened, slightly, though Kat noticed he was keeping one eye on Slate's reaction, which seemed favourable.
"I'm going back for Sable," Kat announced. "Is everyone alright here?"
"We'll be fine," Lex replied, already going through the amulets. "Hurry back."
"Right. Darryl?"
Kat vanished.