A heavy haze hung in the air along with the awful stench of rotting corpses.  The bodies hung from branches in varying degrees of decay adding to the eerie feeling.  Although it was still early evening, the sky was shrouded by a thick fog and she could only see a few yards ahead of her.  Not a breath of wind stirred the cold humid air making the sour stink unbearable as she sniffed for danger.  She treaded cautiously along the edge of the path warry of unseen predators.  Who knows what dangers lurked on the outskirts of the newly claimed Kobalos territory?  

Grimalkin spotted what looked like a large dog hunched over gnawing at a corpse and ripping the flesh off the bones.  Her large bushy tail twitching slightly in a threat response. She took a wide berth to avoid any confrontation with the creature.  She soon realized this was no average dog.  It was a young Kobalos, it's snout dripping with blood as it noisily ate.  He was probably a lookout that got hungry and helped himself to one of the many bodies strewn there.  

Grimalkin stopped only when she reached the low wall encircling the entrance to the arena.  She tried to use her keen senses to locate the dungeons where they probably kept the prisoners. Once inside the hallways were crowded with throngs of Kobalos readying for the night's entertainment.  They made their way towards the seating area around the killing field.  With cat-like reflexes, she avoided their boots and switching tails getting through as quickly as possible.  Her trajectory was not the arena but the prison that possibly held Tom.  She couldn't tell if he was still alive but he must be.  At least his corpse was not one of the ones hanging outside.  

Grimalkin had seen enough to realize Tom was probably not a slave but maybe the entertainment. Still, she feared the worst. She looked into cell after cell finding nothing but emptiness.   She went deeper into the lower levels.  In this new darkness, she could only see the light of the eyes of the creatures kept there.  Finding no sign of Tom she continued her search.  There was a dim light at the end of the corridor coming from a lantern that was running out of oil.  She ran towards it inspecting the occupied stalls filled with all types of abominations she had never seen before.  These beings tied to the walls could only have been created by the darkest magic.  If Tom was here among them how could he have survived with his mind intact?  Thankfully Tom wasn't there.  

She ran back as quickly as her cat legs carried her to the lighted halls her back arched and hackles raised.  She spotted a young girl carrying a tray of food.  These creatures would not be fed like a human.  She surmised it must be for Tom so she followed her. The girl walked up to a cell and opened the unlocked door.  Fear crept onto her features when she found the room empty.  She placed the tray on the floor and covered her face as her shoulders shook.  Grimalkin realized she must be in charge of Tom's care.  A loud roar shook her to attention taking her away from her grief.  Grimalkin saw the tears on her face when she looked up to listen to the mumbled words.  She turned and ran not noticing the black cat that stared at her.

Grimalkin quietly followed the girl back out into the woods.  She ran as fast as her feet could carry her looking about madly.  Away from the Kobalos, Grimalkin turned back into her human form.  She called out to her. "Girl!"

She showed the girl her true form not the scary witch assassin, but the woman that James knew.  The girl stopped and looked at her with brows furrowed.  Dare she hope this was Tom's friend coming to save them?  It can't be.  She is just a pretty woman or maybe a witch.  Who else would be bold enough to come near here unless they were under the Kobalos spell like herself?

"Who are you?" The girl spoke.

"I am looking for a friend that was captured.   Can you help me?"

"What is your friend's name?"  She held her breath in hope.

"Tom."

The girl's eyes grew wide and she looked around to make sure they were not heard.

"Shh."  She shushed Grimalkin putting her finger to her lips.

"I'm afraid you are too late.  Run for your life."  She whispered with eyes full of sorrow.

Grimalkin grabbed her arm. "Girl, I did not come all this way to give up now.  Tell me what you know and I will set you free."

"Please take me with you! If Tom is not dead yet he will be soon."

"Why?"

"They have taken him to the sparing cages.  He is small and weak.  He will bearly last a moment with those savages."

"You have survived, how?"

"I am a slave.  I don't know how they do it but they control my mind."  She looked at Grimalkin with great fear in her eyes.  "They tell me what to do without speaking.  I hear his voice in my mind."

"What about Tom?  How is he?"

"I fed him this morning.  He was very weak.  He told me his friends would come but they don't know what they are up against.   He asked me to warn them.  Are you the only one coming?"

Grimalkin thought for a moment.  If she told this girl anything she might inadvertently give the information to her enemies.  "Tell me everything he said.  Leave nothing out."