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Escape From Manitou Island: Part 136 |
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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.)
BLOWING IN THE WIND LITTLE WIND HELD his hands palms up, and the little fireball seemed to merge into them, flames flaring over his fingers and his eyes lighting up almost gleefully. They met Charmian's, and she bit her lip; an instant later Little Wind had thrown up his hand, the fireball hovering before him and aiming straight at her. She opened her mouth to yell, but of course no sound came out. Thomas, who was closest, tensed and lifted his foot as if ready to run--but the fireball was flying through the air before his foot could touch the ground. Charmian's eyes goggled as it came at her face. DUCK! Little Wind's voice yelled in her head. Charmian grimaced. I CAN'T!! she yelled right back, but as soon as she did, she felt her knees loosen, and gasped and hurriedly dropped to the ground. The fireball flew over her head and she sucked in a breath which actually made a noise. All that she got to say was, "Uh--!" before the fireball hit Mishosha's hand and knocked the medicine doll to the ground. Mishosha let out a startled noise and jerked his hand up, shaking it and hissing. He whirled around in surprise, but Charmian was already throwing herself at the doll like she was looking to make a homerun. She snatched it up in one hand and with barely a thought rolled over and hurled it through the air. "SOMEBODY CATCH!!" Baptiste was closest. He grabbed the doll and whirled around, throwing it at Marten. Marten grabbed it, changed into a bird once more, and went flapping away. "SHEESH!" he yelled as he went. "What am I, a dog playing fetch--?!" Charmian let out a breath--then squealed when her scalp started burning. She grabbed at Mishosha's wrist as he hauled her to her feet by her hair and turned her around. She expected him to have the same livid look on his face that Makwaquae had had, but he just gave her a strangely neutral look which seemed only vaguely peeved. "So," he said, in an equally bland voice, and she wondered if he'd been taking lessons from Megissogwun. "You think you can start interfering, and just get away with it. You have guts, little girl, but very little brain to go along with them." Charmian made a face and tried pulling her hair loose; it felt like her head was on fire. "Oops," she said. It was all she could think of. "Guess you dropped it. Fair game." Mishosha arched an eyebrow. "'Fair game'? You have a very strange concept of games." He let her go so abruptly that she gasped and landed on her knees with a thud. "That little rat can easily be caught. You think I didn't notice that trick you pulled with that puny fireball...?" Charmian felt the blood drain from her face as he turned to look at Little Wind, still standing some distance away; Little Wind's face went equally gray. "So I take it that you've finally chosen a side," the older wabano said. Makwaquae came walking back from the dead manitou. "What's going on?" she demanded, glaring at everyone. "It seems our grandson's decided on a path different from the one we chose for him," Mishosha commented, and Makwaquae looked at the younger wabano as well. "I take it he's decided to go along with these fellows, in whatever pathetic effort of theirs this is." "Oh really?" Makwaquae's face twisted into a sneer. "Such a surprise. You've always been a terribly predictable boy, you know that, Little Wind?" Little Wind began shrinking in on himself. Charmian hated the miserable look on his face and tried telling herself how she would feel if just forced to choose Mishosha over Moon Wolf. Her eyes grew when Makwaquae lifted her hand and fire formed over it. She glanced back at Mishosha as if seeking approval. "Well?" she said. "Can we finally just be done with him, then?" Mishosha waved his hand. "He serves us no purpose anymore." Little Wind took in a breath--whether he was getting ready to protest or not, Charmian had no clue. Makwaquae cackled as she let the fireball loose. It sailed straight at him, and Charmian's mouth fell open when Little Wind just closed his eyes and held his place. Is he--is he GIVING UP--? "MOVE IT!" she shouted, aiming at the fireball but knowing that she wouldn't hit it in time. Little Wind ignored her, or else didn't hear her. Charmian blinked when another fireball struck Makwaquae's and knocked it off its course--everyone gasped and ducked as it zoomed through the crowd and far out of sight, obviously more powerful than her earlier fireball had been. She felt like slapping herself for forgetting Moon Wolf--and an instant later, he was running and knocking Little Wind to the ground. Little Wind pushed himself up, shaking his head in confusion, as Moon Wolf spun around and aimed at Mishosha, blue fire making his hands look like they were burning. "Ah. How nice," Mishosha said, rolling his eyes. "More irritants." Marten, Charmian thought. Are you a good distance away yet--? Pretty sure! Marten thought back. Though I really don't know with those FIREBALL thingies of his! Just keep going as fast as you can and try to find the next stream or river, Charmian replied. If you run into Mishupishu and X, tell them we're on our way. Got it! She sensed Marten's "signal" growing fainter, and broke the connection before Mishosha could try to sense it out. Not that he seemed remarkably interested in doing so. He simply crossed his arms and gave Moon Wolf a quite annoyed look, letting out a sigh as he did so. "You said you wanted a fair fight," Charmian called out. "Then fight fair! That doll was NOT fair!" "You obviously have no clue, then, of how wabanos fight," Mishosha said to her, then turned back to Moon Wolf, eyes narrowing. "I admit. I've learned everything I can about you, but some details still escape me. You were a Mide once, obviously; what level were you? Third? Fourth? And even becoming a wabano and getting all the power you deserved wasn't enough? Silly that someone like you would think to go against me." "We are hardly alike," Moon Wolf said, keeping his hands aimed. "Oh, that's right," Mishosha said, putting a hand to his chin thoughtfully. "You have no interest in becoming a manitou. Too bad, really, as that would probably be the only way you'd survive all this. I find it rather cute that all of you are so set on saving a dinky little piece of rock. What do you think, Makwa-dear?" Makwaquae made a gagging noise. "More like vomit inducing." Mishosha chuckled. "She's always been the less romantic of the two of us, I'm afraid. For example, while I find something rather enchanting in the thought of destruction, she...well...just likes blowing things up." He tilted his head. "What exactly do you intend to do with that fire there...?" "What do you think?" Charmian snapped. "USE it, of course!" "That's interesting," Mishosha said. "He makes grand claims about asking manitous for their help, yet keeps demanding from them anyway. There's a special name for people like that." Mishosha held up his hands and they began glowing. His mouth twitched. "Well, I guess until I get my doll back I'll just have to do this the old-fashioned way, then. I admit I am looking forward to seeing just how much of that you can throw before it peters out." Charmian saw Little Wind tense, then he jogged forward to halt beside Moon Wolf. Moon Wolf's posture tensed as well, and Mishosha's smirk vanished, his eyes narrowing. Then his smile returned, but it was just as false as the one he'd given Little Wind earlier. "I should be quite peeved," he said, "but this actually makes the fight more fair, considering!" The flames leapt up atop his fingers. "You should have stayed in the Wabanowiwin*. Maybe if you were to become a manitou like me you would actually stand a tiny chance!" The fire atop his hands began to form into a ball and his smile grew into a crooked grin. Moon Wolf's own fire grew brighter and began to coalesce, then Charmian gasped and cringed in on herself when the flames were blown from the two wabanos' fingers and evaporated into thin air. Mishosha blinked, mouth opening--then Charmian yelled in surprise and covered her head when something began barraging them. She dimly heard the others yelling as well, and gasped and fell when something ran into her; a moment later she was being pulled back to her feet and dusted off. She opened her eyes--only a sliver, as something was pelting against her seemingly from all sides--and saw that it was Thomas. She had to squint to make him out. His hair and clothes were whipping around him and for a brief ridiculous moment she thought that he was brushing feathers from her arms, until she got a good look at it and began shivering. "Snow?" she had to yell, before realizing that an awful racket had started up as well, and she could barely hear anything aside from that. Wind, she thought, then blinked. "Kabebonikka!" Thomas let go of her and she cupped a hand to her mouth to shout. "HE MUST BE STARTING UP AGAIN!" "AS MUCH AS I HATE TO SAY IT," Thomas shouted back, "MAYBE THIS IS A GOOD THING!" "TRY ROUNDING EVERYONE UP AND WE'LL HAUL ASS OUT OF HERE!" Charmian replied, and started stumbling her way through the clearing. She located Manabozho and Mani, who blinked at her through slitted eyes as she stopped before them and waved her arms as if that would make her more understandable. "START GATHERING EVERYBODY! WE HAVE TO BAIL OUT WHILE THIS SNOW IS STILL FALLING!" "MY WOLVES CAN ROUND EVERYONE UP!" Manabozho shouted back, and gave a whistle. Charmian looked around to see small dark forms go weaving in and out between everybody, and within moments they were turning and heading in the direction that she assumed must be west. "GOOD CALL!" Charmian yelled, and waved; they turned to follow. An awful CRACKing noise made them jump and gasp, and it was as if a flare had been set off; for a brief moment the snow was illuminated, and Charmian could see everyone's silhouettes, but then the light vanished and the whiteout returned. She glanced around herself, chattering, trying to figure out what exactly that had been. An awful shout told her what it must have been. "YOU THINK A PIDDLING SNOWSTORM IS GOING TO HOLD ME BACK FOR LONG?" Mishosha roared from somewhere off to her right, and Thomas grabbed her arm and started hauling her along after him. "I DON'T CARE IF THE FOUR WINDS THEMSELVES COME TO YOUR AID! I'VE KILLED THUNDERBIRDS STRONGER THAN ANY OF YOU AND I COULD EASILY DO THIS AGAIN!" He's crazy!! Charmian thought, teeth clacking. This is what happens when one desires too much power, Moon Wolf thought back at her; she couldn't see anything of him but a faint shadow. Which is why YOU would do well to stop speaking to him so flippantly--there's more than a little truth in his claims of becoming a manitou! Charmian wanted to ask him what that meant, but didn't have the chance. She nearly tripped and had to start focusing harder on exactly where she was going. At first when something furry brushed against her leg she nearly screamed, until she remembered Manabozho's promise, and let the wolf guide her away from the river. She heard Mishosha and Makwaquae commanding their mitchi manitous to come back and go after them, but their voices were growing fainter by the second, as the whirling snow muffled everything and made seeing almost impossible. Thomas put his arm around her shoulders as she ran, and though he didn't manage to warm her very much at all, she didn't shake and chatter quite as badly anymore. "Is there anyplace nearby where we can HIDE?" she cried, having to rub furiously at her eyes, which were watering and threatening to freeze over in the sudden chill. "Weren't there some woods a little ways off?" Thomas shouted in return. "I'll see if I can fly on ahead!" Niskigwun offered. "Perhaps some Pukwudjininees might live nearby!" Charmian glanced aside to see one of the vague forms lift into the air and dart off, though it bobbed from side to side as it did so. She shuddered when she considered how hard it must be to fly in the middle of a snowstorm, and felt much safer being stuck on the ground. That feeling vanished as soon as a loud whistle cut through the air, then another, and another, all from different directions. Her muscles tensed as she sensed the mitchi manitous slowly surrounding them, their whistles signaling to each other where they were. She opened her mouth to ask now what, but another voice cut in before she could, and she blinked at a small shape tottering past her and out of sight. "Don't worry about THEM! My medicine's fully returned, and I believe I can change shape again. I, Kenu, will promptly take care of these beasts!" Charmian's face screwed up, but she figured that they had no better defense than a giant Thunderbird. She picked up her pace and Thomas followed suit. The wind pummeled against her right ear, as it was coming from the north, and after a while a dull ringing replaced the roaring sound as she felt her ear go numb. He COULD tone it down a little, though I guess I shouldn't look a gift Wind in the mouth! A dull glow appeared ahead of them and she saw it expanding and changing shape. A moment later another gust of wind knocked her backwards, and she fell, taking Thomas with her. For a moment, the snow cleared, and she shielded her eyes and peered up to see a huge shape flapping awkwardly into the air. Kenu bobbed and tottered several times, gasping for breath as Kabebonikka's gusts threatened to knock him from the sky, but somehow he managed to keep his balance. "C'MON!!" Charmian yelled as loudly as she could, thinking it at the same time, and everyone made a dash westward. Just before the snow resumed pelting them again, she spotted Mishosha and Makwaquae far behind them, and now the looks on their faces were anything but amused. Mishosha threw his hands up and let out a livid scream. A huge fireball came soaring through the blizzard. Moon Wolf turned around to face it, but Charmian didn't get to see what he did, as Thomas grabbed her arm and pulled her along. "Come on!" he echoed her. "If we stick around that Thunderbird's going to do us in, too!!" You really think he'd be so negligent--? Charmian thought, then bit her lip and obeyed. She remembered the state of the dead Mishupishu floating out in the river, and even though Kenu hadn't quite killed the other one, still, his lightning bolts looked like they would hurt. Something seemed to explode behind them and she yelped and rubbed at her ears. She smelled smoke, but it was quickly washed away by the wind. She blinked tears from her eyes when the vague shapes of trees loomed ahead out of the snow, their tops swaying from side to side in the gale. Something came flapping down and she screamed and bumped into Thomas, but Niskigwun pointed at the treeline as if he hadn't even noticed. "Pukwudjininees!" he yelled at the top of his lungs. "Ahead!" Thomas grabbed Charmian's hand and started moving, but her feet dug into the ground, forcing him to stop. He cast her a confused look and she gnawed on her lip. The Weavers' image of the Pukwudjininees killed by the mitchi manitous so far back made her hesitant to run into any more of them, lest the same fate befall them. Her eyes stung as she thought of the tiny people who had helped her escape into the east. "What is it?" Thomas shouted. When she couldn't think of a clear way to enunciate what was on her mind, he frowned, then seemed to understand. He tugged on her hand. "Come on. They wouldn't help us if they were mad at us!" Charmian hesitated a second longer, then suppressed a sigh and started running again. Niskigwun turned and disappeared in the direction of the swaying trees, most of which were pines. Charmian was starting to get sick of pines, but figured that they must make a better shelter here than leafy trees ever would. The trees themselves were making a dull groaning sound as the first few members of the group dashed past the treeline and under their boughs, the wind whistling through their needles. Charmian glanced over her shoulder to see several of the others come filtering in, then a few more, each little group escorted by at least two wolves. Her ears were ringing terribly in the sudden silence--such as it was--and it took her a moment to realize that the dull thudding she heard wasn't her heart but their feet striking the ground. The snow hadn't piled up deeper within the woods yet, and the ground was covered with generations of needles which dampened the sound of their footfalls. She glanced from left to right at their darkening surroundings before lifting her hand and calling up fire so they could see where they were going. After a while they began to slow down, as it seemed that the two wabanos hadn't come after them just yet. As soon as she stopped she could hear dull thundering booms in the distance, and she let out a shaky breath and leaned on one knee. "Do...do you think they'll come in here after us...?" she panted. "Of course they will," Moon Wolf said, shaking his hand as if it hurt. "The real question is when. We can't stop here. We have to keep going as long as we can." Niskigwun waved. "I heard Pukwudjininees speaking further in this direction, to the northwest. The woods get deeper this way. I believe they could help shelter us, or at least tell us where we should best go." Charmian nodded. "Sounds like a good--" A sharp slapping sound made her cut herself off. Moon Wolf smacked Little Wind across the face, nearly making Charmian's eyes pop out; the noise echoed through the woods, and it was as if every single other sound abruptly died. Every stare immediately focused on the two of them, but all that Moon Wolf did was jerk his finger at Little Wind's face as if to poke his eye out, making the younger wabano flinch. "Don't you ever stand to fight beside me again!" Moon Wolf snapped. "I take care of myself--and you are hardly in any position to help us!" Little Wind just stood rubbing his cheek, his eyes watering up and a bewildered look on his face. Charmian hopped out of the way as Moon Wolf turned and stalked past her, in the direction that Niskigwun was still pointing in. The Michinimakinong goggled at him and jumped out of his way as well; a moment later the others began moving, though nobody dared speak. Charmian peered at Thomas, who rubbed his neck a bit uneasily; she heard Little Wind let out his breath and start walking. She waited until he was near them before moving to fall into step beside him, though that didn't seem to comfort him much, not that she'd thought it would. She was silent for a moment, then rubbed at her own neck. "Well," she said at last, "you're in good company. He's smacked me at least twice so far." Little Wind turned to give her a confused look. She pretended not to notice, moving on ahead to catch up with Thomas. Thomas's mouth twitched but he waited until they'd gone on a ways before speaking himself. "You know," he said, "considering how many times he's tried to kill you--pretty ineffectively, but still--I rather think you have a soft spot for the fellow." Charmian rolled her eyes. "I think that's my problem!" "Oh, I wouldn't know...that Singing Cedars fellow tried the same thing, and look how he turned out...and I know I'm forgetting a hundred other people, including a whole tribe of Iroquois..." "They were Seneca. They get pissed off if you call them Iroquois! Cedars taught me that..." The branches overhead began to rustle softly, and they slowed to a halt, peering upwards. "I believe that is them," Niskigwun murmured, and spread his wings. "I will go speak with them." He flapped his wings and ascended into the pines. The rustling noises halted for a moment, then resumed, and scores of little furry shapes began scurrying down the trunks and popping up out of the beds of needles. Charmian had to force herself not to shudder, the sight was so unnerving. These Pukwudjininees looked much the same as the ones she'd seen before, mostly brown, with large black eyes and tiny yellow pupils, each one brandishing a little spear. They chittered and popped and squeaked all at once, and she fiddled with Glooskap's necklace. "Wish this thing would work properly for once," she said, as their speech began to resolve itself into words. She focused her attention on one of the little people, and the others toned down their chatter a bit so she could hear it better. ...Strange upright persons! None such as yourselves wander muchly throughout our domain! What, pray tell, is the purpose behind this most unexpected visitation...? "Yeah, I guess it's working now," Charmian thought aloud, making a face at the pendant before letting it go. "Um...hi there. We're sorry to come barging in like this, but we're kind of being chased by these two medicine men...um...people...and we thought we might come in here to get away from them. It's kind of a long story," she said in response to the Pukwudjininee's questioning look, and waved Mani forward. "Maybe he can clear it up." Mani stepped toward the Pukwudjininee and bent his head down. The Pukwudjininee hopped forward to place a hand upon his antler, and they stood that way for a short while. Then the Pukwudjininee hopped back and shook its spear, squeaking. Most dreadful, terrible news indeed! Our poor fallen brethren! Our forest is as much a home to their comrades as was theirs! Please come within and we shall find a more opportune time and place in which to converse! "In smaller words, I hope," Thomas whispered. "Ouch!" He suddenly jumped, bumping into Charmian, and one of the Pukwudjininees hastened away from him, chittering. "Did you just step on him?" Charmian asked in surprise, then made a tsk-tsk noise. "That's not making a good first impression!" "As if it's the first," Thomas said, giving a sulky frown as the little person scrambled off. He shrugged. "That's their own fault for being so little! I bet they get stepped on all the time." "Maybe that's the reason why so few people pass through here," Charmian speculated. She put a hand to her stomach and made another face. "Cripes...how long has it been since we've eaten?" Rest assured! the lead Pukwudjininee exclaimed as it hopped along ahead of them. Nourishments shall be set out for all! But firstly, to get you secreted away from those foul medicine persons! "FINALLY!" Augwak groused aloud, making Pakwa jump. "It's about TIME we've had some FOOD!" He began stomping. "I just wish it were the GOOD kind..." "Any such kind as the 'bad' kind...?" Pakwa asked in puzzlement. "I do so hope the accommodations are somewhat DRIER than they were out there!" Peepaukawiss sniffed, rubbing his hands together. "I certainly could use Marten as a muff right about now!" "Hopefully he's far ahead of us by now," Charmian sighed. "I just hope we run into each other at the right place." "You might all want to consider quieting down," Moon Wolf called from ahead, and their chatter began to fade. "I can't sense Mishosha or Makwaquae," he said, glancing back at them. "If they're hiding their power, it means they're attempting something. I suggest we try to do the same for the time being. Which means keeping quiet, and lying low. At least until we find a way out of here." "Agreed," Charmian said nearly in a whisper, feeling self-conscious. He turned away and she tugged on Thomas's sleeve. "Come on. If we take much longer my stomach's going to give us away!" "Funny, I thought that was Augwak's stomach," Thomas replied, but the rest of them kept their talking to a minimum as they made their way into the deep forest. The blizzard continued unabated outside the woods. The mitchi manitous now stood in a tight cluster in the midst of it, fur bristling and heads lowered, eyes squinting tearfully; the snow managed to sting even through their thick fur. Two other shapes stood near them as well, shielding their eyes. Makwaquae scowled, every so often brushing her long hair back when it whipped in her face, but Mishosha stood with his face bared and both fists clenched. He stared upward, but nothing was visible except for white. He'd tried shooting a few fireballs at the sky, but the thundering noises had died away a bit ago, and he was sure that the Animiki was long gone, probably back in his human form and difficult to follow, now. After a few moments of silent staring he let out a scream that made Makwaquae jump, and thrust his hands upward, wrists together. "YOU THINK A BIT OF SNOW CAN STOP ME? I'LL SOON BE MORE MANITOU THAN EVEN YOU ARE!!" With this, he hurled an immense fireball straight at the sky. Makwaquae and the manitous watched it ascend and vanish from sight; a moment later there was an immense explosion, and they gasped and covered their heads when sparks fell around them. As soon as the sparks touched the snowy ground, they glowed even brighter and shot up tiny beams. Within seconds an enclosure of fire had formed around them, the beams arching upward and resembling the wooden posts of a half-constructed wigwam. The snow continued falling, yet not inside; it swirled around just outside the invisible walls as if battering to get in. Makwaquae and the manitous glanced around at it in wonder as Mishosha pulled a pouch loose and began digging in it furiously. "Odd, you've never shown me that trick," Makwaquae said, before turning to her husband and frowning. "What is it you plan to do next? I doubt Keewadin will take too kindly to your comment about his powers..." "Keewadin can go fall off his mountain," Mishosha muttered, pulling something out, squinting at it, then shoving it back in. "I have bigger things to deal with than some conceited pompous bag of wind." He pulled out a tiny doll with a large head and eyes, squinted again, then tied the bag shut. He opened another bag and sprinkled a crumbly substance into the tiny doll's open mouth before giving it a good shake. "We may not be able to follow them as we are--but there are other ways of getting things done. They have their help--we'll just have ours!" He turned and hurled the little doll out of the enclosure, back toward the river. Makwaquae arched an eyebrow as it went. Mishosha pointed after it, muttering some seeming nonsense words under his breath, then turned around once more and stomped his foot against the ground. One of the manitous whistled and Makwaquae looked down; her eyes grew when she saw blood on Mishosha's moccasin. "Husband!" she exclaimed, bending down toward his foot. "You stepped on a rock. Why are you being so careless all of a sudden? What if one of them comes back and fetches your blood--?" "They won't be coming back this way any time soon," Mishosha said, pulling his foot away as Makwaquae picked up and pocketed the sharp rock. "And it's not my foot they should worry about." He fell silent and stood staring toward the distant forest, which wasn't even visible from here anymore; he even held up a hand to shield his eyes from the nonexistent sunlight. Makwaquae and the manitous stared in this direction for a few moments before peering at each other in puzzlement. Makwaquae looked at the wabano from the corner of her eye, but waited several minutes before speaking up. "Husband...don't you rather think we should get going by now...?" "Just another minute or so," Mishosha said mildly. "It's taking a bit longer than it should, but then again, this snow isn't helping much." Makwaquae furrowed her brow. "What's taking longer...?" she started to ask, when another manitou whistled and she caught sight of something small making its way toward them. She blinked a few times, then squinted; as soon as she could make out what it was, she held up her hand and formed a fireball, her eyes glittering. But Mishosha reached out and nudged her arm downward so that the fire faded away. She gave him a confused look. "What are you doing that for? It's just a little wood rat--you know how I love killing wood rats!" "I know, Makwa-dear, but I'm waiting for this wood rat," Mishosha replied as the Pukwudjininee came trotting toward them. Its eyes stared blankly as it ran and it carried its spear stiffly in one hand; it came to a halt outside the fire enclosure and held the spear up, letting out a squeak. Makwaquae tilted her head and threatened it with the fire a little but it didn't even look at her. "Did it hit its head...?" she inquired while Mishosha waved his hand at the fire enclosure and the bars parted so that the Pukwudjininee could step through. "Not quite," Mishosha said, bending down toward it. He reached for its spear and plucked it from the Pukwudjininee's hand, standing upright and looking it over curiously. He smiled and leaned toward Makwaquae, showing it to her. She looked at the speartip and saw a trace of red. "Recall how it's not my foot we should worry about...?" Mishosha said. "Too bad that another in their party wasn't watching his foot." His smile twisted into a sneer and he opened a pouch, carefully depositing the spear inside and cinching it shut. Understanding began to dawn in Makwaquae's eyes. "Ohhh...how delightful!" She clapped her hands together and let out a cackle. "Which one is it, which one is it? You MUST tell me! Or else I'll--" She glanced around them, then aimed at one of the manitous, which whistled in alarm. "Or else I'll blast his head off!" Mishosha rolled his eyes. "You were ever the dramatic one, you know that, Makwa-dear? It so happens that good old Keewadin gave me an idea. Seeing as he's so intent on blustering his way into things, we may as well take advantage of that. Those two Wendigoes they have with them are piddling trivial creatures and their spirits are weak. But that other one...that halfling...I sense that maybe he's even more Wendigo than they are. So to speak." "Who, the human?" Makwaquae asked in puzzlement. "You'd truly place your bet on a half-Wendigo?" she added as Mishosha waved at the fire enclosure again and it faded away, the snow beginning to pelt them once more. "I don't have to place my bet on anything," he nearly had to yell, the wind was so noisy. The two of them tucked their arms into their sleeves and began walking westward. "Seeing as he wasn't watching where he was going, I rather think that he'll handle everything just nicely himself!" "That fire-haired girl has a thing for him!" Makwaquae exclaimed. She clapped her hands again. "I do so hope he eats her first!" Mishosha's mouth twitched and he gestured at the manitous to follow. "Perhaps I should take back what I said--you rather are a hopeless romantic," he replied with a smirk of his own, and Makwaquae laughed. |