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Escape From Manitou Island: Part 167 |
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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.)
ROADBLOCK EVEN AS CHARMIAN'S drowsy thoughts drifted southward, she found herself thinking, When Moon Wolf learns of this he's going to kill me. She knew this was a bad idea--a possibly VERY bad idea--but what Winter Born had mentioned from her dream--that Megissogwun knew someone was holding out on him--had stuck with her, and she knew that the thought wouldn't stop niggling in the back of her head until she did something about it. I already know that Mishosha and Makwaquae would never be interested in a single thing I can offer them. But what if what I can offer them is knowledge that their promise of power might go nowhere after all their troubles? Would that convince them to listen...? She doubted it, and mentally bit her lip, but it was a chance she had to take. She found that the thought of dealing with Moon Wolf's ire later on frightened her more, and let her mind relax further, knowing that she'd never get anywhere being so tense. I already know they're not too far away...just think of them...they can't work on dreams, but they CAN read thoughts... She envisioned the snowy landscape currently surrounding them, and pictured herself drifting over the small hills and valleys, stands of pine passing by beneath her. She cast about for any thoughts alien to herself even as she slipped halfway into a dream state...but oddly enough, it was the alien thoughts which reached her before she could reach them. And what is this! Either you have guts, or you have no brains, little girl, to come seeking me out like this! Charmian ground her teeth and envisioned herself drifting to the ground. She didn't feel her feet touch the snow, but it was just as if she stood atop a hill in reality; something hazy took shape before her and a moment later she stood face to face with Mishosha. He grinned from ear to ear, the dim light glinting off his nosering and making him look even ghastlier than ever. "I don't know whether to be impressed or to laugh at how stupid you are," he said as Charmian made herself relax again, growing accustomed to feeling his thoughts. "Opening yourself up like this? Do you like me after all? One could simply leave a trail of crumbs behind themselves and the way wouldn't be any more difficult than this." "Shut up," Charmian retorted. "I know full well you're not interested in finding us anymore! So you can stop being such a bitch." Mishosha smirked and crossed his arms. "If only Makwaquae were awake to hear you talk. I can't wait until we run into each other again, by the way, though it looks like you couldn't wait either. And so to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit? I know already that you must be here for a very good reason, otherwise--" and she felt him probe at her thoughts "--you wouldn't have run with such a stupid idea!" Charmian felt a twinge that she was so obviously open to him, and tried closing herself off a little, somewhat belatedly. He seemed to sense this too for his smirk grew but he said nothing of it. "You and I both know you're heading west too to cut us off," she said. "So unless you plan on taking my brain over or something I doubt there's anything you can do right now! You don't have power over dreams." "True," Mishosha said, "but this isn't a true dream, is it? Recall that you're in the midst of a vision state? Of course I can sense that too," he chided when her face went white. "As if you're the first person who ever had a waking vision! Such things are child's play for a real wabano." He tilted his head and looked her up and down. "Though as much as I hate to say it, perhaps you have the makings of a real wabano, if you'd just quit all that atrocious 'asking' stuff." "No thanks," Charmian said, growing irritated. "As a matter of fact I came here to share something with you," she added, seeing how he cocked an eyebrow, seeming genuinely curious. "Not that long ago another one of us had a dream..." "Oh, yes...that little winter girl of yours," Mishosha said with a nod. "Yes, I thought I'd sensed something. Didn't she just throw one of those tantrums of hers, by the way? How are those going--?" "Just fine," Charmian said, and clenched her fists. "Do you want to hear what I have to say or not!" Mishosha put a finger to his mouth. "Shh! Makwaquae is nearby, and as you might not know, we share visions sometimes. That's just the way we are. She might get jealous if she finds out I'm holding out on her." And his mouth twitched again in a way that Charmian really didn't like. "So what was it you decided to so graciously share with poor old me? I thought I might be wearing you down." "Far from it," Charmian replied. "And speaking of holding out, that's just what I'm here about. You said you already know Winter Born had a dream? Well did you know that she talked with Megissogwun personally?" Mishosha blinked. Charmian thought that she saw his face go a shade paler, but an instant later, before she could be sure, he'd composed himself again. "Oh really?" he said with a barely concealed sneer. "Do tell." "Who's jealous now?" Charmian taunted. "You mean he won't deign to speak to you--?" "The Pearl Feather has spoken with us directly, little girl, so I have little to be jealous about. Do you know what will happen if I snap out of my vision with you still in it?" "I can do the same thing." "Yes, but I doubt you'd enjoy the company." He grinned, baring his teeth. Charmian made a face. "Well, you're right on that at least. As I was saying though, Winter Born's been in touch with Megissogwun himself. AND the Red Swan, who I know you're familiar with." She'd been hoping for some sort of reaction, yet got none; apparently this wasn't news to him, or else he was good at hiding it. "Glad to see that you've all met," he said. "Likewise. The Red Swan's actually been a pretty good help to us so far. If not for her we never even would've found your island or your Canoe, and we wouldn't be able to keep in touch with Manitou Island." A little voice in her head told her that she was saying too much, but just as before Mishosha didn't react. "Well, it's certainly good to know that you'll get to say your goodbyes before that place is destroyed," he replied calmly, and even lifted one hand to examine his clawlike fingernails. Charmian ground her teeth but pressed on; she could hardly get out of this with nothing to show for it. Or else Moon Wolf would REALLY kill her. "Like I was saying," she tried again, "it turns out that Makwaquae's not the only one who gets pissed off at being held out on. I think you should maybe be more worried about Megissogwun getting upset. Seems he thinks you and Makwaquae are up to something behind his back. Now what might that be?" Mishosha started to frown now, so she knew that this information was new to him. "And what makes little winter girl think such silly things?" he asked. "I doubt the Pearl Feather would bother revealing much to a runt like her." "He revealed enough," Charmian said. "Namely that he knows that you and Makwaquae are hiding something from him. Oh...he didn't seem too happy to see the Red Swan, either." Now she was certain of it--Mishosha's face went completely white. He didn't even try to hide it this time as his eyes went wide and his arms uncrossed; she thought he might be ready to pass out, before remembering that this wasn't real. "He saw her...?" he whispered, and Charmian hid her own twinge of satisfaction at hearing the shock in his voice. "Mm-hm," she said, crossing her own arms. "Now what was it he said...? That he knew somebody was hiding her from him? I wonder who that might be..." She knew that she was pressing it, acting like this, but gasped anyway when a split second later she found her feet almost dangling above the ground. Mishosha had hold of her by the front of her winter outfit, and his fingernails were digging into the furs hard enough to rip small holes. She started shaking a little when she saw how his eyes flared--he looked more and more like a manitou every time she saw him--and he bared his teeth again, though this time not in a sneer. "You think to come into my vision and play games with me, brat?" he snarled, making her wince. "I can wake up and trap your spirit with mine for as long as I like. I can cast medicine at you until your heart dies within your chest, and I can do the exact same thing to every single person in your company. What, that frightens you? You think I don't know you and how you think by now?" he growled when her own face went pale. "Just try me again, little girl, and see how far you get." Charmian's heart hammered up into her throat and she nearly apologized right then and there--but she made herself take a breath, then let it out, and forced her tensed muscles to relax. She met his eyes squarely and said, with barely a hitch in her voice, "I have better things to do than play games." She raised her head a little though the movement hurt her neck. "So--which of us is bluffing?" There was a very long pause, and her arms and legs hurt from her keeping them from shaking--but after a few moments Mishosha's fingers loosened slightly and he set her back down. He still kept hold of her collar, however, and bent forward now to look her in the eyes as he was taller. "Very well," he said, his voice still seething but not quite as ugly as before. "You're more useful to me alive right now as it is. But your 'threats,' such as they are, carry little weight with the likes of us. So the Pearl Feather knows of the Red Swan? He was bound to discover her sometime. Thanks for giving me the heads-up, though, little girl. I do like to be prepared." Crap. I thought I finally had him! Charmian hid another wince. "I get the feeling he won't be too happy the next time you guys talk with each other," she pressed. "Seeing as how you're hiding things from him. Things like the Red Swan, at that." Mishosha smirked and at last let her go; she brushed at her clothes to straighten them out, shuddering a little as she did so. "Ah...I see. You think to intimidate me into believing he's about to revoke his promise to us, to make us manitous. This shows how truly little you understand of things, little girl, as surely you should know by now that manitous don't go back on their promises." "He might once he finds out exactly what you're hiding from him!" Charmian tried again, feeling herself growing a little desperate. She could see that she was losing his interest already, but no more ideas seemed to be forthcoming. It was obvious that neither Mishosha nor Megissogwun trusted the other, so why wouldn't one of them turn--? "You just said he already knows," the wabano replied. "When next we meet, I'll simply tell him that yes, she's there. What use hiding it? Let him speak of her all he likes. It doesn't matter to me." "Yeah, but--I doubt he knows just WHAT she is," Charmian added, frustration seeping into her voice. Mishosha's smirk returned and he once again crossed his arms. "And you're going to tell him...how quaint. You need to learn to conceal your thoughts better, little girl, because I can tell even you have no clue what she really is. Not even Little Wind knows. This time I call your bluff." Charmian clenched her fists, sensing the vision wavering around her as Mishosha's attention faded. "I bet Megissogwun's gonna be REALLY happy finding out that you plan to use your SECRET WEAPON on him," she yelled, "DARK SPIRIT and all!" Instantly everything around her solidified, and she and Mishosha stood staring at each other again. Mishosha's eyes looked ready to fall from his head. "Uh-huh!" Charmian snapped. "I can see things like that. SURPRISE! What do you think Megisso's going to be saying once he sees her spirit stone for himself--? And finds out just how powerful she REALLY is?" Mishosha blinked, then his teeth slowly clenched, as well as his fists. "You have no idea," he grated, "of the things I'm going to do to your own spirit once I get my hands on you!" "Whatever!" Charmian retorted, feeling a bit of her courage returning now. "We pissed her off the last time, but I think we'll be visiting with the Red Swan again anyway. After all, what better way to fight one dark manitou--than with another dark manitou? That's what she was created for, wasn't it?" She let her hands go loose, ready to end the vision on this note, now that her point had been made; she hadn't been able to change his views any, but at least she had him a little bit cowed, and possibly in fear for his position. Before she had the chance to wake up, however, she saw the change come into his eyes--the rage faded, replaced by surprise--and Mishosha said, "You really don't know, do you--?" Charmian blinked. "Huh--?" she blurted out without thinking. Mishosha stared at her for a moment, then his mouth started to twitch. "A dark manitou?" he echoed. "Created for this? You really have no idea what she is, do you--?" He let out a harsh, cackling laugh. "Go right ahead! Little girl! Go right on thinking just that. I admit you had me worried for just a moment. Go right on believing in your stupid little ideas, and I'll see you in the west. What's that word--? Oh, right--bluff!" And he waved his arm in a flourish, and the vision faded away. Charmian found herself still standing in imaginary snow, but it was just her own vision, and Mishosha's presence was gone. She blinked again and looked around herself in surprise. He hadn't even attempted to trap her. "Not...not a dark manitou...?" she murmured, confusion welling up inside her head. "Then what the hell is she...?" Charmian? Another blink. The voice had come from all around her, echoing and distant yet somehow near. She glanced at the sky, then down at the snow. It took her a moment to realize that she was now sitting in it and grasping it in her fingers...only she dimly began to see that she wasn't grasping snow at all, it was fur, and she blearily blinked her eyes open, lifting one hand to rub at them. Her neck hurt and she lifted her head with a wince. She was still atop Mani's back, and the manitou was peering back at her curiously. Winter Born still dozed behind her, but the others were looking up at her as well with various expressions of puzzlement. "What...?" Charmian said groggily, now rubbing her neck. "Something happen?" "You said something about a dark manitou," Thomas, standing next to Mani, said. "You dreamed something...?" "I...oh yeah, I did." She shook her head a little, careful not to disturb Winter Born. "I talked with Mishosha--" "What?" half a dozen voices hissed at once, and Mani jerked to a stop, letting out a loud whistle. Charmian grimaced to find a bunch of angry eyes glaring at her, and put a finger to her mouth to shush any forthcoming protests. "Shhh! We needed more info, didn't we? And it's not like he's going to be following us now, is it? I figured it was a chance worth taking!" "After all this time," Moon Wolf grated, eyes livid, "you have NO IDEA how such people work?" "When we get home, young woman," Stick-In-The-Dirt added, shaking a hand at her, "we're going to have a good long talk!!" Charmian's face screwed up. "Anybody want to hear what he SAID or not?!" "For God's sake, just let her talk already," Lieutenant Barrington said with a gusty sigh, leaning on his gun. When they looked at him he said, "It's not like she's going to shut up otherwise, is it?" Charmian steamed. "Thanks a lot!" She crossed her arms, though she knew the gesture went unnoticed. "I just told him that Megissogwun's got it in for him for holding out, but the news barely made him blink. He was interested, though, in what exactly we know of the Red Swan." "You spoke to him of her?" Moon Wolf asked with a frown. Charmian nodded. "He didn't seem to care much even when I threatened him with Megissogwun knowing about him and her, but when I mentioned her spirit stone he turned as white as a ghost. So I figured we must be on the right track of something." Her brow began to furrow. "But when I said how she'd been created for this purpose, and she's a dark manitou, he started laughing and said we have no idea what she really is. He's the one who ended the vision," she said, earning strange looks from Moon Wolf and Manabozho. "So...I guess we're not on the right track after all...? What the heck is she if not a dark manitou? I mean--what better reason to keep her from Megissogwun, than as insurance? She said herself that she has no memory of anything before being trapped in that cave--like she was created to be there. So what is she?" "I had thought that perhaps she was a trick being played on us," Moon Wolf said. "Are you certain this all wasn't a trick on his part?" "He seemed surprised enough," Charmian protested. "I really don't think he was faking." "You've underestimated him in the past," he said, his eyes darkening. "This wouldn't be the first time he's fooled you." "He...wasn't...fooling." Moon Wolf's and Charmian's eyes widened a little. The soft comment had come from Winter Born. Charmian twisted her head around to look down at her and saw her sleepily blinking open her eyes, then lifting a hand to rub at them as she yawned. Everyone stared at her, but she didn't seem to be fully awake yet. "Winter Born?" Charmian said, brow furrowing again. "You mean you had the same dream I did--?" "No..." Winter Born blinked a few more times, looked about at their surroundings, and let out another wide yawn. "But I talked with the Red Swan." The blood drained from Charmian's face. "What?" she exclaimed in a ghastly voice. "Oh," Manabozho said. "The moccasin's on the other foot now, isn't it!" Charmian shook a fist at him, wishing that she had a snowball. "I didn't go looking for her," Winter Born murmured. "Not really." She blushed a little when she saw them all looking at her again. "I mean...I kind of hoped I'd hear from her again, but I didn't want to bother her...and I started dreaming about something completely different before she showed up. It felt like a normal dream--you know? I don't even really remember it by now...but I remember partway through it I was back in her cave, and she was there too, and she started talking to me." "Was she mad?" Charmian asked. Winter Born bit her lip a little, then shook her head. "She seemed more afraid than anything. I think that's why she talked to me. I thought she'd be upset about the last time, but I think she was scared instead. What did she say--?" She twisted a braid around her finger and got a look of concentration, her nose wrinkling. "Oh. She said the cave was getting darker, and soon she wouldn't be able to see. What does that mean?" "Crap," Charmian whispered, feeling her skin go cold. "Mishosha is what it means! Now that he knows we know about the Red Swan, he's probably going to hide her from us even better!" "We already know where she is," Manabozho said. "So why should this matter very much?" "You don't get it. SHE'S part of the reason why we've stayed connected to Manitou Island!" Charmian looked down at the others beseechingly. "Without her--no more connection!" "Even if this is so, she wasn't exactly in the most helpful of moods when we last ran into her, so to speak," Niskigwun said with a frown. "Surely we can keep managing without her." "But I promised we'd come looking for her," Charmian exclaimed. "And if Mishosha's hiding her even more, then it means bad news! It means he really DOES have a reason to keep her from everyone! I wasn't wrong when I told him she was his secret weapon--I was only wrong in guessing what exactly she is!" "You think he plans to use her after he's been granted his powers by Megissogwun?" Moon Wolf asked. Charmian shrugged. "What ELSE would he go to such trouble for? Thing is--now that Megissogwun knows about her--what would HE do if he finds her before we do?" She dug her fingers into Mani's fur. "I really don't like this! The two case scenarios--the Red Swan either ends up as a massive weapon in the hands of Megissogwun, or she ends up dead! I can't say which one is the WORST-case scenario!" "Whatever it ends up being," Moon Wolf said, "we can hardly do much about it now." He gestured skyward when Charmian shot him a look. "It's getting dark--and we don't even know where we are! As much as you may hate to hear it, the Red Swan is the least of our worries right now. Do we keep heading west in the dark or do we stop and possibly lose time?" "You hardly need to be so dramatic about it," Manabozho groused, walking off ahead of them. "Just ask politely and maybe somebody will come along and help us! I bet the manitous in the trees around here know the way better than anyone." He let out a whistle and listened. They continued walking even as they waited...so it was quite a while before Charmian even noticed that nothing was happening. She frowned a little and started scanning the ever-growing stands of trees, some deciduous mixed in with the pines now, but didn't see anything. A glance at Manabozho showed her that he seemed puzzled too, and he whistled again. He shrugged. "Maybe they have bad ears." "Maybe the wind deafened them!" Marten suggested, throwing up his arms. "WHOOOOOOO!" "Maybe Winter Born's medicine just scared them off a little," Charmian said, biting her lip. "But that was way back there!" Manabozho retorted. "And why should they be scared? They're manitous." He let out a third whistle, then yelled, "HEY! Aren't any of you bothering to listen? MANITOUS HERE!!" "Mani?" Charmian leaned over his neck. "Anything?" Mani whistled. Can feel others, but...they do not reply! Not even to Mani--see? He let out a blaring whistle which back at home would have brought a whole herd of manitous converging on the spot--but it resulted in nothing but an echo here. Everyone strained their ears, then the two okis whistled a little, and Charmian even tried...nothing. "Maybe they don't have manitous here...?" she started to suggest, feeling a bit stupid. "Okay, okay," she added at Manabozho's dirty look, "so they're EVERYWHERE. If that's the case then maybe find out why they're suddenly so reluctant to show their faces! They've always been helpful enough before." "They could just have a good reason to hide," Stick-In-The-Dirt murmured anxiously as Manabozho, Marten, and the okis fanned out to look. "Perhaps the Pearl Feather came this way in the past." "He wouldn't have bothered with them," Charmian said with conviction. "He doesn't waste his time on little people--see? He only talked to me because I smelled like Manabozho!" She glared at Peepaukawiss when he opened his mouth. "DON'T--SPEAK." Puka shut his mouth and pouted. "I really wasn't going to make a comment! All right--I was," he admitted at her foul look. "But only in combination with ANOTHER comment! I was just going to suggest that perhaps we're looking for the wrong thing...? I mean, sure, there are manitous everywhere, but..." "That's right!" Charmian's face lit up. "There are spirits everywhere but they don't all call themselves manitous!" She snapped her fingers and gestured at Walks-On-The-Shore. "Like in the east, they have okis. The okis understood me when I talked to them, but they didn't answer at first because I was talking to them like they were manitous!" She turned to Puka. "You brought it up--so do you know anything about how things work here?" "Well!" He puffed up a little like a grouse getting ready to drum its wings. "It's about time somebody realized my importance in things! As a matter of fact, I've traveled QUITE extensively in my life, and even though I can't say that I've traveled in the west as much as I should have, still, I did stop long enough to pick up a few--" He broke off sputtering when a snowball hit him in the face. Everyone looked at Thomas, who exclaimed, "I think I'm finally getting it!"--before noticing their stares and flushing a little. "Er...sorry." "As I was saying," Puka continued, brushing snow from his feathers with a dirty look, "I managed to pick up a few stories and hear of a few customs that should be prevalent in this particular area. I never did hear the name that they give their spirits. But I do know that they look much different from our manitous. I never saw one, mind you, but..." "Thanks anyway," Charmian cut him off with a dismissive wave, turning back to the others. "Since you're part spirit, I guess I leave you in charge for the moment," she said to Manabozho. "For the MOMENT," she added at his look. "And Mani, you can help out too since they might listen to you more!" She ignored the additional dirty look that she got from Manabozho. "If the spirits here won't help us we have to find a place to sleep on our own. Can anyone head south and try to find Mishu? It's been a long time since we've heard from him. Cripes, I don't even know if Kwemoo and Maang are still around or not." "We sent the demon off to see to the Lynx while you slept as he seemed quite anxious himself," Niskigwun explained. "Those loons, well...one never knows quite where those annoying creatures are! Perhaps they followed him." "I'll go see!" Marten exclaimed, and ran off through the woods. "I guess we should just try to bed down here for the night then," Charmian sighed, looking at the snowy ground around them. She climbed down from Mani's back and rubbed her arms. "Maybe it won't be so bad once we get a fire going?" She held up her hand and a fireball appeared. "Anyone care to help out? We should pick up dead branches rather than cut any trees, since nobody's speaking to us now." "I'll see if I can help," Little Wind offered, and held up his hand so his fireball drifted over his fingers. He turned toward where the trees grew thicker. "There should be some branches this way..." He took only two steps before his little fireball went out with a puff. He and Charmian blinked; Charmian looked at her own fireball but it was still intact. When Little Wind's fireball reappeared a moment later and he tried again, the same thing happened, and it vanished as if blown out by a breeze. "Huh," Charmian said with a frown, "that's weird. Is it acting up on you again?" "I...I don't think so," Little Wind said, brow furrowing. He waited until the fireball appeared a third time, and now it bobbed up and down and side to side as if agitated. Little Wind stared at it for a moment or two before turning to the rest of them, seeming just as confused as ever. "It's telling me that every time it tries to use its medicine, something else stops it." "Stops it...?" Charmian looked at her own fire, then aimed it at the ground. It alit upon the snow and melted a hole in it before extinguishing itself. "Well...mine seems to work okay!" She turned next to Moon Wolf but saw that he was a step ahead of her. He held up his hand and blue fire appeared around his fingers, but as soon as he tried doing something with it, it too disappeared. He frowned and looked at her. "It's just as I thought," he said. "The spirits here don't want us to use their medicine." "But Little Wind's fireball is his medicine," Charmian protested. Moon Wolf shook his head. "No, it's his manitou's medicine. Do you notice how when we try to call up spirits here--any spirits--something interferes with them? Your medicine works because it's your own and you don't have to rely on manitous for it." "That's right...Wabun gave it to me." Charmian chewed on her lip. "Then what's that mean...?" Scuffling noises came, and Marten came dashing back into view. "G...guys!" he panted, tumbling into the clearing like a little furry tumbleweed. "M-Mishu and X say something's going on in the river they're following! They keep trying to head west, but something keeps stopping them! They say it's like the water itself doesn't want them to keep going!" "Water spirits," Charmian said, and looked at Little Wind's fireball. "Fire spirits...they're all around us. We can't use most of our medicine so what do we do?" "Well--isn't that the easy part?" Lieutenant Barrington snapped, and started walking. "We just keep heading west!" Everyone fell silent and watched him. Surprisingly, Black Elk Horn--now conscious but still atop the oki--let out a huffing noise and got down to follow, apparently not to be outdone. Charmian bit her lip but didn't protest; perhaps they could clear a way. The two disappeared from sight for a few moments; then there came a gunshot sound, and everybody jumped. Charmian winced. "I knew we shouldn't have let them go off together," she groaned as the sound of hurried footsteps came back in their direction. She expected it to be Black Elk Horn--but it was Barrington instead, and he gave them all a wide-eyed glance as he dashed back toward the trees. "I didn't do it!!" he yelled as he went. "HE'S the one who pissed them off!!" "Them--?" Charmian had time to echo, when suddenly the woods were filled with a howling wind which nearly knocked them all over. They grimaced and flung their arms over their heads as the gale tore at the branches, sending pine needles whirling in every direction. Charmian and several of the others had to struggle just to keep standing. "Crap!" she yelled again, shielding her eyes as she tried lifting her head to look at Manabozho. "I think you're going to need to try some diplomacy--because apparently, the spirits here don't LIKE us!!" |