Marie stood quietly in some confusion as she looked down on the young Leoman that had approached her and Draco. Part of her wondered what this really was, as most of the people in Glendale, and even those in the praying town seemed to go "glassy eyed" whenever the witches were mentioned, and then spoke about how wonderful and kind they were. This Leoman female feared them, and had even said that she knew they were dangerous. Did she know something? Was it a trap? All of these thoughts went through the back of her mind. The young Leoman's apparent fear, however, made Marie believe that it wasn't a trap.
"I'm sorry if this troubles you, young one," Marie began, "but do you have any information about the witches defenses? Anything at all? It would help us save your sister."
"It'd be best to take this inside," Draco advised, "It would draw less attention."
Marie then slowly nodded, "We won't hurt you."
"Okay," Mal'akh spoke somewhat nervously.
She then followed Marie and Draco inside a rather rundown looking building. They were greeted by an elderly native man at the entryway.
"Is anything wrong?" he asked.
"I do not believe so," Marie answered, "this is..."
"Mal'akh," Mal'akh answered, cursing herself for not properly introducing herself.
"Mal'akh," Marie repeated, "She's come looking for us in the hope that we can save her sister from the witches."
Running-Bear nodded, "I'll leave you alone then."
The elder man then departed and left them to head into a sort of "living/family" room. There, Mal'akh was surprised to see a somewhat scarred, bald, and extremely petite lioness, but the fur that she did have pink and light blue. Sitting and reading from and old book across from her was a human male.
"Who are you?" Mal'akh asked as she came up to where Katherine was seated, "what Pride are you with?"
"I'm a Felman, not a Leoman," Katherine corrected, wondering if ANYONE in the new world knew about Felmans, "my name is Katherine."
"I am Mal'akh," Mal'akh introduced herself.
"A pleasure to meet you," Katherine told her and shook the young Leoman's hand.
"She's volunteered to help?" Linus asked as he put down his book.
"She is from Glendale," Marie answered as she and Draco entered, "We're asking if she knows anything about the witches' defenses."
"Ah," Linus nodded.
"These are the rest of my team that can fit inside buildings easily," Marie then spoke to Mal'akh, "this is Linus Sure and Sister Katherine, I am Sister Marie Cruz, and this is Father Draco Fire."
Mal'akh looked a little puzzled.
"We are officers of the Catholic Church," Marie explained, "Linus is an officer of your Colonial Militia."
"I see," Mal'akh answered, "and they've sent you to fight the witches?"
"Essentially," Marie answered, knowing that her answer twisted things a little, "though the fight will be be much better if you know anything about their defenses."
"They have a Pride of Leomen around them, the Witch Pride," Mal'akh spoke, "armed with metal logs for some reason."
"Yes," Draco nodded, "We know of them. We're hoping our gargoyle will be able to deal with them."
He was hiding various details and Marie's own fears, but he didn't want to panic the Leoman that had come to them.
"The only other thing I know about is that they have a maze of thorns around their home," Mal'akh then spoke after a few moments, "and it's like the bushes are alive. They tried to grab me when I went by them."
She decided to leave the fact that she had gone through them out as she didn't want to let them know that he had gone through them to see her sister for fear that they might think her allied with the witches.
"I could try to find a path threw them for you," Mal'akh offered.
"No, young one," Marie warned, The witches would surely go after you if you did."
"But your information is helpful," Kathernine told her, "we thank you."
"Your welcome," Mal'akh answered weakly, "Hopefully what I've said helps save my sister... but I must be going. My father and the Glendale Pride will be expecing me back."
Mal'akh was met by Joseph Running-Bear as she left his home. He offered her a small trinket witht he promis that it would offer her and her family some protection against the witches' magic. It was surprising to her, but she took the trinket. Marie and her friends seated.
"Can you trust her?" Linus questoned.
"Maybe not entirely," Marie answered, "but it is not like we have much choice. And until we are able to get more information out of you, she is not the only mystery that we have."
Linus did not answer.
"How is Vatican?" Katherine asked Marie, "Has he healed any?"
"I think he has been carving a new form for himself, but without a female gargoyle, his wounds from the first fight with the witches can not be healed."
"He can not heal his wounds?" Katherine gasped.
Marie slowly nodded.
"How long would it take to get a female gargoyle here?" Draco asked.
"Unless there is one already here, it would take too long," Marie sighed, "Which is unlikely given what my father told me about them..."
"And that is?" Draco asked.
"They prefer cities," Marie spoke, "There might be a few in Boston or New York, but that would be it."
"I can check," Linus offered, "Maybe eve recruit a few volunteers."