Cheyenne tried to be quiet as she travelled down the long hallway to Serenity's chamber. It didn't do her much good to step lightly, as her hooved feet just continued to clop loudly against the stone floor. Cheyenne thought that Serenity had been awfully abrupt with them and she wasn't confident that all was well. It is for this reason that Cheyenne decided to pay Serenity a late night visit. Cheyenne was wearing a white, hooded robe and a yellow sash, provided by the young accolyte who had shown them to their rooms.
Cheyenne stopped outside Serenity's office door. She knocked softly, not really knowing what she would do if Serenity actually answered. Her trepedation was soon laid to rest as Serenity did not answer her door. Cheyenne tried the latch, and she was surprised to find that the door swung open easily. She stepped into the dark room and spotted the secret passage immediately. Whomever had used it last, had left the door wide open.
Cheyenne went to the door and called out softly for Serenity. There was no answer from the passageway, and Cheyenne found herself being drawn down the length of the corridor. The passageway curved slightly to the left and Cheyenne could see a little light spilling from a partially closed door ahead. She crept up and opened the door. She was surprised by what she found.
Serenity, shackled to the wall, looked up and tried to say something. The muzzle was still on her mouth and she could not speak. Cheyenne rushed up and tried to pull the shackles free. She was strong, but not strong enough to do this. She began to search around the room for keys. "I'm going to help you, hang on a second.", Cheyenne winced at her own choice of words and Serenity made a feeble attempt at communication again. Cheyenne had forgotten to remove the gag in her haste to search for keys. She came back over to where the skunkette was hanging and pulled the muzzle off her face.
"Bless you child!", said Serenity greatly relieved at being found.
"Who did this to you?", asked Cheyenne.
"That evil human woman Kehle. The spy you are after.", said Serenity.
"A human spy working for the Order of the One?", asked Cheyenne in genuine surprise. She couldn't imagine humans being allowed into that organization.
"The Order?", asked Serenity. "She's with the Enclave. The human supremescits from the north.", she said.
"We were looking for a spy from the Order and we spooked one from the Enclave?", said Cheyenne. "This is terrible."
"You must stop her!", sobbed Serenity. "She murdered one of my accolyte, Sally, a young and virtuous Chipsquirrel who was only trying to find her place in the world!" Serenity continued to sob "She killed her and made a disguise from her skin. Worst of all, she killed Sally while dressed...as..me! Sally died thinking I was killing her!", Serenity collapsed against her shackles and cried deeply.
Cheyenne became angry when she thought of the horror of what Serenity has told her. "I'll help you Serenity, but where are the keys so I can free you?"
"Kehle has them. She's dressed as Sally now and is trying to seduce one of your friends.", said Serenity.
"I know who that would be.", said Cheyenne. She was still looking for keys while she was talking to Serenity and noticed the skunkette suit hanging in the closet. "Kehle was you earlier wasn't she?", asked Cheyenne. Serenity nodded and sniffed.
"I have an idea", said Cheyenne as she took the Serenity costume from the closet and began to put it on. "You're to weak right now to confront her, and your congregation needs you. I'm going to confront her as you and expose her to the others." Cheyenne pulled the suit on all the way and adjusted the mask. Within seconds, she was transformed into Serenity. She continued to look about the room. "Do you have any weapons?", she asked.
"No my child, this is a place of peace.", said Serenity.
"Haven't you ever heard of the crusades?", she quipped as she padded out into the hallway on Serenity's silent feet.
Cheyenne stopped outside Eliases door and wondered what she should do. She decided to...
Mon Dec 31 16:22:12 2001