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Escape From Manitou Island: Part 134 |
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(DISCLAIMER: This part, and all parts hereafter, are works in progress (WIPs) and have not been proofread or checked for plot inconsistencies. I've decided to present them "as is" for now, as there is a significant amount of unfinished material; yet this story has been on hiatus for a long while, I've forgotten certain details, and I have no plans to resume work on it any time soon. Please keep in mind while reading that details may change in the future. Should you spot an inconsistency, however, please feel free to point it out to me for possible correction.)
EXPENDABLE "SEE? WHAT DID I tell you?" Little Wind crowed triumphantly, pointing at the two fireballs emerging from the river. "I told you Grandfather Mishosha would come for me!" No one answered him. Charmian stood next to Moon Wolf, staring at the two fireballs with wide eyes; Moon Wolf looked like he wanted to speak, yet no words came. Little Wind stood smiling at the fireballs as they came to a halt over dry land, growing and expanding until they were as tall as humans. When the firelight faded, Mishosha and Makwaquae stood there, already sneering. The bone ring in Mishosha's nose twitched. "Well well," he said, tilting his head and crossing his arms. "Take a look who we've finally found. I have to admit, I'm somewhat disappointed. The group of you leave a rather conspicuous trail." "That tunnel collapsed behind us," Charmian said in barely a whisper. "How did you even get here?" The wabano snorted and rolled his eyes. "Simple...we just listened to all that racket you were making." He scanned the crowd, then smiled at Kenu. "I take it he was the one responsible for that. Congratulations, might I add, for killing one of my Lynxes. I should also admit that's quite impressive, for a scrawny Animiki like you." Charmian glanced back at him, expecting him to start booming and stamping his feet; which was why she got an uneasy feeling when Kenu simply crept back to hide behind the others. "Oh," Mishosha added, regaining her attention. "We also said hello to that pathetic manitou friend of yours, you know, the one who lives in the middle of that mess of deadwood." "Wisakedjak--?" Charmian blurted out, and her eyes went wide. She took a step forward, though Moon Wolf grasped her wrist. "What did you do to him?" she demanded. "That was YOU guys who ruined his tunnel--?" "Such a weakling as that shouldn't bother calling himself a manitou anyway," Makwaquae said. "So we taught him a little lesson in humility." "Like YOU guys would know anything about that!" Charmian retorted. "Grandfather Mishosha!" Little Wind exclaimed, clasping his hands together; the wabano turned his head slightly to look at him from the corner of his eye. Little Wind's face was elated. "I knew you would come! I would have left you a trail myself, had I been able, but I knew you would be able to find me anyway--I never doubted--" His voice cut off abruptly and his head snapped back, and he fell to the ground with a loud thud. Charmian and the others grimaced; Mishosha's hand was still aloft, and if she hadn't been staring right at him, she knew that she would have never seen the whip of fire that had just smacked Little Wind on the chin. She glanced at the young wabano as he pushed himself upright, wincing and rubbing at his face; Mishosha lowered his hand and tucked them both into the sleeves of his robe. "That was for killing another one of my Lynxes," he said mildly. Little Wind blinked a few times--Charmian saw tears in his eyes--then took a shaky breath and got slowly to his feet. He kept his head lowered, still rubbing at his jaw. "I...I'm sorry, Grandfather...I'll never do such a thing again, I promise." Charmian braced herself for another attack, or at least a tirade, but was again surprised when Mishosha did nothing more than smile. It was a strange cloying smile which didn't seem right on his face for some reason, and she disliked it immediately. "You know I could never stay angry with you for long, Grandson," he said in a voice just as cloying as his smile, and Little Wind's eyes lit up again, his fireball coming to hover over his shoulder. "I know you went along with it only because you had to. I place no more of the blame on you." Little Wind let out a breath. "Thank you, Grandfather!" "Someone is, however, at fault here," Mishosha went on, and his stare roamed over everyone standing beside the river, his eyes narrowing. "There is only one here to completely take this blame, for killing my Lynx so carelessly." His stare came to rest at last on Charmian, and she tensed, feeling Moon Wolf's fingers dig into her wrist; Mishosha's smile returned, then he raised his hand. Charmian and Moon Wolf put up their own hands--but Mishosha whirled to the side, and sent out a fireball that struck Little Wind's, sending it flying from his shoulder like a shuttlecock. Little Wind whirled around as well, eyes goggling, to watch both fireballs strike a rock; Mishosha's dissolved into sparks, but Little Wind's fell to the ground with a puff of smoke and wavered weakly. The younger wabano turned back with disbelief on his face. "G-Grandfather!!" he cried, voice cracking. "Like I said," Mishosha said in the same neutral voice as before. "It wasn't you who was responsible for killing my Lynx. I very well know your manitou's grown intractable and needs to be properly dealt with. Let's just be grateful that it was a mere Lynx it killed, and that Lynxes are expendable." "B-but..." Little Wind glanced back at the fireball, which was just starting to float up into the air again, bobbing almost dizzily from side to side. "But--Grandfather! It's my manitou! It came to me in my vision--you said it was a good manitou--!" Makwaquae rolled her eyes. "What a simpering cowering baby he is! I can't believe we've put up with him for even this long." "Now now," Mishosha said. "What else can you expect from a manitou so pathetic as this one? You do realize, don't you, Little Wind, that you can always get another manitou--?" he said, turning back to the younger wabano with a crafty smile. "One much more obedient? One which does exactly as you wish it to, without you having to beg like a human." "Ever stop to think that maybe that's because he is human?" Charmian snapped, ignoring the bite of pain in her wrist. Makwaquae gave her an ugly look, but Mishosha just seemed amused. "And ever stop to think that maybe YOU'RE human, too--?" Mishosha's mouth twitched. "That's right, I'd forgotten how impertinent you are." He turned to Little Wind, who was still staring at his faltering manitou as if silently urging it to get up. "You have an important choice to make, Little Wind," he said, and Little Wind slowly turned to look at him, tears in his eyes. "When you were little, a little manitou was all you needed," Mishosha went on. "But you're grown now, and if you ever plan to follow through on your promise to me, that means you're going to have to think somewhat bigger." He crossed his arms again. "It's no trouble at all to gain yourself another manitou. You don't even have to look for one. Just give up this puny one and I'll teach you the proper spell to get even greater manitous to do your bidding, no begging necessary." Little Wind let out a gasp. "But--Grandfather! This is MY manitou! I--I know it's small and--it's weak but--it came to me! It chose me! I can't just let it go--!" Mishosha rolled his eyes. "I take it that these people have been feeding you stories in my absence. Since when do you have to wait for a manitou to take its time and come pick you?" "Since ALWAYS!" Charmian shouted. "That's how things work! You can't take without expecting to pay something back!" Little Wind gasped when Mishosha moved to stand in front of him, placing one hand against his face. Charmian had never seen the young wabano's eyes so wide before. "Take a close listen," Mishosha whispered so that she could barely hear him, and leaned toward Little Wind so their faces were inches apart. "Who was it who took you in, and raised you, and taught you everything you now know? Who was it who cared for you when no one else would? If you truly believe in paying back--don't you rather think that applies to paying me back as well--?" Little Wind started wavering. "That's different!" Charmian shouted, and took a step aside to try to gain his attention. "Little Wind! It's different with families! They're supposed to accept you with NO strings attached! If he really cared like he says, then why is he demanding that you do something that'll hurt you? Does that sound like family?" "Keep in mind who's fed and sheltered you all these years and who even instructed you on how to obtain this manitou in the first place," Mishosha said. "You wouldn't be anywhere right now, if not for us. And now you would listen to some nobody who would have nothing to do with you otherwise, if swaying you didn't have some impact on their own selfish little mission?" "Little Wind," Charmian called. "Would he even be asking you to do such a thing if he wasn't thinking entirely about his own selfish mission--?" Mishosha held up his hand and flames flared around his fingers; Moon Wolf pulled Charmian back a step. "Make no mistake," Mishosha said without looking at them, "I can kill you in a heartbeat, and the only reason why I haven't so far is because I choose not to just yet. But that can always change." His eyes narrowed. "Well Little Wind? Is this how you would repay me? Forgetting the path I've set out for you?" "You're not a puppet, Little Wind," Charmian said. "Just like your manitou isn't a puppet! You'd throw it away just like that? Sure Mishosha took you in, but your manitou chose YOU! It's stayed by your side even now! And where's Mishosha been all this time--?" Little Wind's eyes welled up again. "If...if I give it up...then I have no more power left," he said in a weak voice. "I know that you've cared for me, Grandfather--and I'd do anything else you want--but--this is a part of me now. How can you ask me to give it away?" Mishosha pursed his lips. "I suppose it was rather ignorant of me to ask you to give it up," he agreed, and just as Little Wind relaxed, he let loose the fireball. Charmian threw her hands up again, but it veered left at the last second and went zooming toward Little Wind's manitou. Little Wind let out an incoherent yell and pivoted on one heel as if to make a run for it--then the smaller fireball was gone, and Mishosha's fireball struck the rock and evaporated again. Everyone's eyes went wide and both Charmian and Mishosha blinked. She couldn't believe what she was looking at. Little Wind's fireball was still there, only it was clasped in Stick-In-The-Dirt's arms, and he was holding it to himself as if it were a football and he were making a touchdown. His eyes were shut tight and his teeth chattering; as soon as he realized that he hadn't been hit, he lifted his head, then frantically brushed a few stray sparks away before they could burn him. His wide-eyed stare fixed on the others, and Charmian's jaw dropped. Mishosha blinked a few more times. "A nanandawi--?" he blurted out, then the blood rushed to his face. "A piddling nanandawi--?" He clenched his teeth and lifted his hands, fire forming between them. "You'd best think before getting yourself involved in this fight, human!" Stick-In-The-Dirt shot to his feet. He let out a shout just as incoherent as Little Wind's, and hurled the fireball through the air. Everyone watched it sail over them--it descended in an arc toward Peepaukawiss, who quailed and batted it just as Mishosha aimed at it again. Charmian tried watching both it and the wabano as the small fireball was hit back and forth, until it landed at last in Marten's hands--Mishosha and Makwaquae both fired at him, but the Mikumwesu changed immediately into a bird, and went flapping away with the fireball clasped in his feet. "I'll keep it safe!" he yelled as he went. "He'll never get it from ME!" Charmian turned to see the stunned look on Little Wind's face. "Interesting," a voice growled, and they both turned back to look at Mishosha. His eyes were livid and hateful, his fists now clenched at his sides. "Interesting," he echoed himself, "how many of you are willing to die for an ingrate such as this." "Grandfather," Little Wind protested weakly. "You can't mean that!" For a moment it looked like Mishosha couldn't even speak. "You honestly think we need you to complete our job for Megissogwun--?" Makwaquae said, sneering slightly. "You were just insurance in case anything should befall us. Seeing as we're now one step away from becoming manitous ourselves, and your manitou is nothing compared to us, I rather think you've outlived your purpose." "Wh--what--?" Little Wind gasped, his face going gray. "What do you mean?" "Simple," Mishosha said, lifting his hand, his eyes glittering like two onyxes. "You're expendable." He hurled a fireball straight at Little Wind. The younger wabano could do nothing but watch it come at him, and it took Charmian a moment to remember that he had no powers with his manitou being gone. With barely a thought she threw up her hands and hurled a fireball of her own, so strong that it nearly knocked her backwards; it struck Mishosha's several feet from Little Wind's face, giving him enough time to duck and avoid the remnants of the more powerful attack. Everyone shielded their heads as sparks and bits of flame went flying out over them, and several gasped and slapped at their arms or stomped on the ground to put out the sparks. Charmian let out her breath to see that Little Wind at least was still intact, then gasped and jumped when a blue glow filled the air. She turned to see Mishosha glowering at her--and the blue glow was surrounding him. She felt a chill creep up her spine on seeing him like that--it was the same look that Manabozho and his brothers had gotten during their fight with Chakenapok. But that couldn't be possible--they were half manitou. Makwaquae's mouth twisted up. "Oh look," she said. "You got him angry." Charmian felt her knees grow weak staring into Mishosha's eyes. They looked almost ready to start glowing themselves. "I have no compunctions against killing children," he growled, then his eyes shifted away from hers and the glow around him faded until he looked almost normal again. His own mouth twitched. "Though I nearly forgot...I had something more amusing in mind." He gave Makwaquae a chiding look. "Now how could you let me forget that?" She snorted but seemed just as amused. "Me? I'm the one who was for doing it first thing in the first place." "Huh...?" Charmian started to say, when Mishosha reached into one of his pouches. Instantly Moon Wolf was on the ground again, gasping and clutching his chest; Charmian reached down for him in surprise. "Moon Wolf! What is it--?" "Do you forget so quickly, girl?" Mishosha called out. "And here I thought things were slipping my mind. Equal exchange--recall--?" He pulled something out of his pouch and held it up. Charmian looked at the little wooden figure of a person, something wrapped around its neck with a cord. She squinted at it before remembering what Stick-In-The-Dirt had explained back at the ice bridge, and felt her skin go cold. "That's--" she managed to say, before the wabano gouged one long fingernail into the doll's chest, and Moon Wolf let out a pained noise and curled in on himself. She clenched her fists and shot to her feet. "Stop it!" "Listen to that," Makwaquae laughed. "She's asking you to stop it!" "Very well," Mishosha sighed. He pulled his fingernail away. "But what would you rather have me do? Like I would participate in this bargain only to do nothing? You're rather naive for a student." He wrapped his hand around the doll's head and flames formed around his fingers; Moon Wolf's hands promptly shot up and he clasped his head as if it were ready to fall apart, letting out a yell. Kenu and Winter Born sucked in a breath and disappeared behind the adults; Stick-In-The-Dirt looked ready to collapse, and even Little Wind's face was pale. Charmian took a step forward and raised her hands, fire licking at her own fingers; she knew that her own attack would be next to nothing compared to any of his, but couldn't think of anything to do. "KNOCK IT OFF!!" she yelled. Mishosha just smirked, then let go of the doll's head. She blinked and took in a breath, only to feel something grasp her ankle, and she almost squealed and kicked it away. She thought to look back first, and saw Moon Wolf slowly dragging himself to his feet. He let go of her, only to grasp her arm and pull her to the side. His eyes were shadowed again, his breath labored. "Stay back," he said in a weak but hoarse voice. Charmian's brow furrowed. "I can't just let you fight him when he's got you right in his hand--!" He turned his head a little and finally met her eyes. "This is it," he said, one hand to his chest as if it still hurt. "I don't know what he'll make me do. And as long as you stay close, you're in danger." "Huh--?" Charmian got out, before Stick-In-The-Dirt hastened forward and pulled her away from him. She tried protesting, but nobody listened; Moon Wolf turned back to Mishosha, who offered him a chilly smile. "What does he mean?" Charmian whispered, confused. "He doesn't know what he'll do--? Don't tell me Mishosha can control him with that thing--!" "This is exactly it," Stick-In-The-Dirt whispered back. "Didn't I tell you before? The actions he performs on that doll are just as if he did them to Moon Wolf himself. Whatever he does to it, or commands it to do, will be done--if his medicine is strong enough." That disclaimer didn't sound terribly encouraging, especially considering everything that Mishosha had done so far. Fight him, Moon Wolf, Charmian urged in her head, fists tightening at her sides. You taught me! You fought Ocryana! I KNOW you're powerful--we just have to find a way to get that doll back! "You will not enter this fight," Moon Wolf said aloud, making her suck in a startled breath, her face growing hot. Mishosha's smile vanished and he narrowed his eyes, glancing at her, then back at Moon Wolf. The smirk returned. "So you two can communicate like that, is it? Is she trying to insinuate herself into this little dispute?" His smile grew. "Go ahead and fight all you want, girl, I'll hardly stop you. Though you should be aware that once you're in, you're in--and I won't stop until both of you are put down." "Stay out of it," Moon Wolf growled over his shoulder. "I can't just let him do this alone," Charmian whispered to Stick-In-The-Dirt, her eyes starting to sting. "Not when he won't have any control!" "You realize that once you get involved in a fight with a medicine man, there will be no end to it until one of you is dead--?" he retorted in a hiss. "I've heard of these feuds that go on for years! Even falling upon the heads of a medicine man's children and their children! You would bring that on yourself--?" "I think she should be allowed to fight him as she sees fit." Stick-In-The-Dirt's eyes went wide, then he turned his head to look past her. Charmian's brow furrowed and she turned around as well. Thomas, nearby, was gawking; but it was Francois who had stepped forward, and was staring at Mishosha from the corner of his eye. He met Charmian's confused stare. "Francois...?" she said, beyond perplexed. "You heard what she said," the voyageur said to Stick-In-The-Dirt. "He has no control thus it's not a fair fight." "And who ever said we like to fight fair...?" Mishosha called out. Stick-In-The-Dirt clenched his fists. "Are you mad? You saw her attack on his fireball! That was the strongest one of hers I've ever seen! And it still wasn't good enough to destroy it completely--!!" "She doesn't intend to defeat him," Francois countered. "Just to hold him at bay, at least until we can find a way out of this." "How cute, Mishosha," Makwaquae said. "They think they're going to be leaving here alive!" "At this rate, perhaps they will," Mishosha said. "All this talking might make us die of boredom!" "Hold your frigging horses!" Charmian snapped at the two wabanos. She whirled back to Francois and the others. "Francois--I appreciate the vote of confidence, but--are you feeling okay--?" Thomas took a step forward, saying, "Charmian--" but Francois looked at him and he paused. Their eyes both shifted to look at something else, then Thomas furrowed his brow a little before understanding seemed to come to his eyes. He turned back to Charmian. "I think you should do it," he said, his voice steady. Stick-In-The-Dirt grabbed at his head and started letting out an awful noise. Charmian was too bewildered to even agree or argue by now, this reaction had been so unexpected. In truth she was used to everyone disagreeing whenever she wanted to do something stupid. "Well..." She turned to the two wabanos, who had crossed their arms and by now looked rather bored. "I guess it's settled then!" Moon Wolf whirled to face her so abruptly that she jumped. "Stay out of it!" he hissed, fists clenched. She clenched her own fists in response. "YOU'RE NOT THE BOSS OF ME!" She glared at Mishosha. "You want a fight? Then here I am!" He snorted. "What made you think I wanted to fight you? I have my own people to take care of such petty little tasks"--and he lifted one hand and snapped his fingers. Charmian tensed when a whistling noise came, then took in a breath, stepping back when dark shapes started emerging from the river. She recognized the mitchi manitous immediately, swimming toward the bank and clambering out onto land, and couldn't believe that she hadn't noticed them approaching. The big one in the lead halted to shake the water from his fur, then lifted his head to give her the most malevolent glare she could remember seeing. His muzzle wrinkled. Think you can lose us THAT easily--? he growled. "Huh--?" Charmian blurted out again, then cast Mishosha a look. "Wait a minute! I was going to fight you!" "I have bigger things to deal with," the wabano said with a roll of his eyes. "Like your beloved teacher here." He pinched the doll and Moon Wolf winced and crumpled, landing on one knee. "Not fair!" Charmian yelled, the manitous approaching. The mitchi manitou whistled and tossed his head just as Mani came surging forward to meet him, eyes flashing. "Oh," Makwaquae said, glancing at her husband. "She's interested in fairness now!" "Well, if that's the case--" Mishosha waved his hand and Mani halted in his tracks, frozen just like he'd been when they'd first met Megissogwun on the Island. He let out an alarmed whistle which the mitchi manitous just whistled back at in amusement before turning their attention toward the group standing near the river. "But--!" Charmian gnawed on her lip and took a step back. "Now what?" she whisper-cried to anyone who might be listening. "Well--we have no real choice, do we?" Thomas said, eyeing the nearest manitou off to his side. "I take it we have to at least fight them off before thinking of going after him!" "Don't worry about these manitous!" Manabozho exclaimed. "They're barely even worth the concern. I bet I could take them on easily!" Then why DON'T you--? Charmian thought with a barely suppressed growl, when Manabozho went running forward, both hands outspread. He let out an almost comical yell as he did so and Charmian saw the lead manitou's eyes flick in his direction--a second later, the ground next to her had erupted, and Manabozho vanished with a startled yelp. It was only Niskigwun who saved Winter Born from falling into the crevasse as well, and they watched in surprise as it promptly filled up with water. The mitchi manitou glared at Charmian and snorted. Thought you wanted a FAIR fight? If you make it unfair, then so will I! Charmian ground her teeth. "I ALWAYS fight fair!" She waved at the new pool forming beside them. "I can't help it that some people are idiots, though!" The manitou's muzzle wrinkled again in a sort of sneer. Then prove it! Am fully willing to take you on right here, right now! "Charmian...?" Thomas whispered. "You really think you can fight him by yourself--?" "No choice," Charmian muttered. "But fighting fair means the other ones can't gang up on me--YOU guys can take THEM out!" She met the lead manitou's glittering eyes. "This one is mine." Thomas bit his lip, but a look from Francois made him nod. "Good luck, then," he said, and faced one of the other manitous, holding up his hands so that ice formed around his fingers. From the corner of her eye Charmian watched the others turn toward the remaining manitous, who seemed intent on surrounding them; then she turned her attention briefly to Moon Wolf and the other wabanos. Moon Wolf was giving her a livid glare while Mishosha and Makwaquae seemed greatly entertained by the situation; Little Wind stood by himself not too far away, staring at Charmian with wide eyes as if he thought she were nuts. She figured that he probably did, and turned once more to the big manitou before her. "Well?" she prompted. "Ready to give it a shot? I might not be much, but I bet I can at least hurt you." The manitou whistle-laughed. I forget to be afraid, you're so amusing. With barely a snort he came charging at her, and she sliced her hand through the air. "Wind!" The air before her coalesced and smacked across the manitou's muzzle, making him stumble. He shook his head with a wince, then let out a blaat when she hit him with a fireball. She briefly noticed that none of the wabanos were fighting yet, Mishosha seemingly too interested in watching her own fight; the other mitchi manitous were spatting with those around her, though she could tell that the manitou she was facing off against was the strongest by far. Manabozho started dragging himself out of the waterhole, sputtering and sopping, but as soon as he saw her and attempted coming to her defense she shook her head, keeping her eyes on the manitou's. You can't help me now, 'Bozho! If you do then ALL of them will gang up on me!! What am I expected to do then--? Just cower here and let YOU do all the work--? Seems fine at any other time, she thought to herself, and jerked her hand at the waterhole. "Water!" The manitou batted the waterspout away with his antler. Pathetic! He swung his antler at her head--not wanting a repeat of that, she ducked, then yelped when he caught her on the legs instead. With a yell she went toppling into the waterhole, inhaling a mouthful of muddy water before she could think to hold her breath. Manabozho grabbed her arm and hauled her up so that she started sputtering; she shook the water from her eyes and blinked a few times before spotting the manitou turning toward them, and scrambled to climb out. "You're sure you don't want me to help--?" Manabozho called after her in a sincerely concerned voice. "Positive," Charmian coughed, splashing back toward the manitou. She heard Manabozho let out a gusty sigh, then another splashing sound and a loud whistle as she assumed that he must have turned his attention toward one of the other manitous instead. "This is amusing," Mishosha said in his best Chakenapok voice, "but not terribly interesting." "Come on now!" Makwaquae called. "I thought we brought you from the Island for a reason. Can you or can't you just kill her off? At least a little bit of bloodshed will be more fun than all this boredom." Charmian's face went gray. The mitchi manitou leered and stomped a hoof. Kill her now? he whistled. Very well. Will be delighted bathing my antlers in your blood! "Charmian!" Moon Wolf barked. "STOP FIGHTING HIM!" I can hardly do that NOW, Charmian thought, and put her hands together, arms outward, as the manitou charged. "ROCK!" she yelled, and the ground shook before several large rocks tore themselves loose, more coming from the river, each sailing at the manitou's head. She swung back her arm to call up a fire attack while he was distracted, only that didn't happen. The rocks halted in midair, then went sailing backwards, splashing harmlessly in the river or thudding back to the ground. Charmian had just a second to gawk. Truly a stupid human, the manitou jeered. You forget so easily that I control rock--? Charmian blinked, then her face screwed up. Note to self--stop forgetting stuff, she thought, and the manitou swung his head and knocked her from her feet. |