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Escape From Manitou Island: Part 180 |
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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.)
KENU'S REUNION KENU JOGGED OVER to stop in front of the cloudbank rolling low along the ground, throwing his arms wide. It looked like he was trying to stop some sort of monstrous storm creature from attacking, and for an instant Charmian expected him to either get bowled over or enveloped in it, which was why when the cloud flashed and abruptly transformed it surprised her so much. One instant, the dark roiling cloudbank was rolling right up to Kenu as if to run him over; the next, somebody stood there, grasping him in their arms. Charmian blinked. It was an old woman, thin and frail and stooped like Nokomis, wrinkles lining her face and her long gray-white hair trailing over her shoulders, but she'd lifted Kenu effortlessly and was holding him so tightly that it looked like even Mani's antler wouldn't be able to pry him loose. "Beloved little Nephew!" the old Animiki woman exclaimed, her voice cracking. "At last we've found you!" The other sections of cloud which had broken apart from each other drifted toward the ground as well, and each flashed and glowed until more and more Animiki were coming their way through the snow. Charmian couldn't be sure if she recognized any or not, as she hadn't gotten a good look at anyone in particular during her brief visit to Nigankwam's sky camp, but the way they all crowded around the old woman and Kenu made it clear that this must be the remnants of his tribe. She felt her eyes grow wet, and sniffed a little when Thomas grasped her arm in return. There was a bit of commotion as the other Animiki greeted Kenu, so it was a moment or so before the crowd thinned enough for Charmian to see that he was hugging the old woman in return, and crying his eyes out. She blinked again--he'd been so composed a mere moment ago. She could tell that he'd been trying to hold it in, especially in front of everybody else, but now that his people were finally here he must not have been able to handle it anymore. "...I was so scared!!" he wailed, clinging to the old woman like a bear cub to a tree. "Grandfather Nigankwam is gone, and there's all these big monsters and stuff, and horrible horrible Lynxes, and bad people, and I tried to be brave and do the right things, I really did, but I'm just so scared..." Winter Born, standing a few paces away, turned to Charmian, brow furrowed. "I thought he was pretty brave!" she whispered loudly, and Charmian could only nod and shrug. I guess he's a lot more grown up than I thought, she thought to herself, tentatively stepping toward the crowd of Animiki. They were mostly older men and a few old women; the best and youngest warriors had likely all died at Lake Superior. Her eyes grew damp again on thinking of this. All this time I thought he was being so childish, he was probably holding back a lot more than he let out! She halted a short distance from them, fiddling her fingers but not speaking up as Kenu sobbed against the old woman's breast; she stroked his head and comforted him until his crying gradually began to die down, at which point the others in his group turned to look at Charmian's group, and she blushed a little, shifting from foot to foot. "You are the ones who have been watching after him since the Lynxes attacked?" one of the older men standing to the left asked. Charmian started to say yes, then abruptly shook her head. "No! Um--he's--he's been keeping us company, and helping us head west. He's really helped us out a lot. I'm not sure we would've made it this far without him." As she spoke, Kenu lifted his head and peered over his shoulder at her, his eyes red and puffy; he sniffled with a small slurping noise and rubbed at his nose. The Animiki looked like he wanted to say something, then changed his mind; his features, which had looked vaguely suspicious and forbidding, relaxed, and Charmian felt herself relax as well. "He really has helped," she insisted. "But we promised we'd help him find his tribe, too." "We received a messenger a while back, claiming to have come on behalf of an Ishkode-Aanakwad," the Animiki said. "He informed us of what happened, since we had already found out about the battle, but not what became of Kenu afterwards. We were greatly relieved to hear that he was still alive." Charmian flinched. "About that..." she started to say, but Kenu was already busy tugging on the old woman's shawl. "You should have seen them all! They fought so well! I hope I can fight half as well someday! When I get old enough, I'll go out and I'll kill off every last Lynx, every last one of them! Just for Grandfather!" He pulled on her arm next and she set him down; Charmian expected him to start telling them of what had occurred with the scroll, but instead he exclaimed, "Except for one! Just one of them! There's a good Lynx and he's helping us--" the other Animiki's eyes all went wide and several mouths slowly opened in disbelief "--and these humans here, they're helping too, I know she says I'm keeping them company and watching over them and stuff but they've been keeping me company and watching me the whole time, every single minute! I never would've gotten here if they hadn't helped me! I just wanted to stay with Grandfather Nigankwam--" he let out a choked noise and rubbed one fist against his eye "--but they made me come along, told me I had to help avenge him, and they're right, you know, because I couldn't do any good just sitting back there crying. It's so hard not having Grandfather here to tell me what to do." He broke off for a brief moment, rubbing both eyes now and sniffling. "But I have to figure it out on my own sometime. I'm not old enough yet but they're helping me. They put up with me making storms and yelling and scaring them and everything. I didn't think humans could ever be so nice and helpful, but they really are." And then he whirled around with clenched fists and yelled in an oddly childish voice, "And if you EVER tell any other humans I said any of this, I'll BLAST YOU ALL TO CINDERS!!" Thomas peered at Charmian, but she was too busy gawking at Kenu with her mouth hanging open to even notice him. He tapped her arm to try to snap her out of it. Niskigwun, still shaking a little from Kenu electrocuting him, stepped forward instead, grimacing as he brushed at his singed feathers and bowed slightly toward the elder Animiki, who frowned but nodded. "Great Uncle...please forgive us for our state, but we're on our way west, and have had some unsettling circumstances along the way. We were not expecting to meet Animiki so soon. Little Brother Kenu promised to assist us in seeking out a manitou who is causing us trouble." "The Pearl Feather, yes," the older Animiki said. "The oshkaabewis told us this too. We found it difficult to believe, but then again, Grandfather Nigankwam's best men were all killed..." A troubled look flitted across his face, but he brushed it off. "We are the ones remaining, aside from the women and children, whom we left back in the camp. We were told this manitou is seeking to do the same thing he once did before." "Destroy everything," Charmian managed to say, coming out of her daze, and took a step forward. She nodded, rubbing at her head. "That's why we're heading west, because he gave us a chance to find Kabeyun, though it's not looking all that great...oh!" She cut herself off, seeing the way that Augwak was gesturing at her now with a very foul look on his face. "That's right--Kabebonikka--" "The snow stops just west of here," the elder Animiki said. "We sensed that Lynx heading west as well under the ground, but we were not aware he is among your company," the old woman added, Kenu now clinging to her leg. "Mishupishu!" Charmian exclaimed, clasping her hands together. "Was he alone--? Can you tell?" "There was another in his company but we could not tell what it was," the older man answered. "We decided not to attack until we were certain what's going on, since the oshkaabewis was somewhat vague, and we received the impression that some odd things were going on. We just were not certain what odd things," he finished, frowning at Kenu. "Well...it's kind of a long story," Charmian admitted, not really wanting to get into it; but Kenu was already telling the entire thing to the old woman, and to whoever else happened to wander close, and she let out a weary sigh and rubbed her head. "I remember Nigankwam saying that even the Animiki don't know where Kabeyun lives," she murmured to Moon Wolf and Thomas. "Otherwise I'd love to ask them!" "It won't be necessary, will it?" Thomas asked. "If the snow stops nearby then surely the plains can't be too far." "I was wondering," Charmian called out, and the male Animiki glanced toward her, the others being too busy listening to Kenu's tale. "If any of you might know where the plains are. We need to reach them before Kabebonikka will help us out..." "We were wondering about that," the Animiki said, frowning again. "One of our own messengers commented on the snow. It simply stops, just west of here. We thought perhaps we had taken a wrong turn." Charmian had to stop and try to puzzle that one out, it perplexed her so much. "Wrong turn...?" He didn't clarify, instead turning to look back at Kenu. "Judging by what the oshkaabewis said, I take it that Kenu will be remaining in your company...?" When Charmian nodded he said, "Since he is acting ogimah now, then we follow his command. We are the strongest remaining of our tribe and haven't much to offer, but what we do have, we will give freely should he ask." "That's really thoughtful of you, but I'm not sure what we need," Charmian said. "We just need to reach the plains. And since the snow stops near here, I take it it's the last leg of the trip!" "We can guide you there, then," the Animiki offered. "Since the way isn't that far, and the spirits here are strange." He lifted his arms and started glowing. "We need only take to the sky and you can follow us." Charmian's face lit up. "That sounds great! Thank you so much!" Kenu finished telling his story and tugged on the old woman's arm to be let down as the man started to transform, and he hurried back to Charmian's group, waving at the other Thunderbirds as they all began to change. Charmian made sure everyone moved back a respectable distance to avoid anything unpleasant, though these Animiki seemed more skilled at shapeshifting than Kenu was. "Goodbye, my people!" Kenu called as they changed back into clouds and began roiling up toward the sky, flashing and grumbling. "I do hope to be reunited with you again soon!" He jumped up and down, cupping his hands to his mouth. "BYE!!" Charmian stood and watched the clouds' forms shift into vaguely birdlike shapes again before they began drifting west. "All right then," she said. "West it is! I hope this is the last time we have to do this!" "I can't wait to see what these 'plains' look like!" Winter Born exclaimed cheerfully, skipping in the snow. "And how Kabebonikka will help us out!" "About that," Thomas said, and Charmian and Moon Wolf both looked at him. Charmian's guard went up immediately on seeing the look on his face. "I think maybe after all this walking around I'm starting to catch on," he said. "And is it just me or does this seem a little too easy...?" Charmian grimaced. "He's right," Moon Wolf said with a sigh. "For being so near the end, it seems too simple. Did Kabebonikka mention anything else that we should be aware of...?" "I already told you guys everything he said," Charmian protested. "Winter Born was there, she heard it all too. We were crystal clear with him. He just said he'd make it hard for us to reach the west. And he has!" Thomas pursed his lips. "What then are we forgetting...?" He was silent for a brief moment, then a strange look came to his face. "He'd make it hard for all of us to reach the west," he said, just as a boom came from overhead and part of the cloudbank broke away from the main body. Charmian halted, eyes growing. "The Animiki aren't covered by his deal! They shouldn't have ANY trouble--!" "I didn't mean them," was all Thomas got to say, as the cloud had reached the ground and transformed back into the old woman from before. She jogged toward them--Charmian felt guilty making the poor old woman run so, though she seemed to be holding her own--halting several paces away and pointing one bony hand south, panting slightly. "Something is happening that way! The snow ends just ahead, but further south, it seems to be picking up, and what's more, the spirits are saying strange things. We don't understand them well as their speech is odd but when we asked them what was wrong, they said that the cold is spreading, both up and down." "Up and down...?" Charmian echoed, baffled. "What the heck does THAT mean--?" Winter Born gasped and jerked to a stop in her skipping, whirling around. "Brother X'aaru!" she cried, waving her arms. The blood drained from Charmian's face. "And Mishu--they've probably had the easiest time out of all of us--and Kabebonikka meant he'd make it hard for EVERYONE!" She turned to the old Animiki woman beseechingly. "Is there anything you guys can do--? They're so far under the ground by now! We aren't even sure exactly where they are! I don't even know if they know what's going on!" "They are not too far below the surface," the old woman said, "which means we can probably reach them...but as for how, I do not think you would care for it..." An awful look came to Charmian's face. "I don't care," she forced herself to say. "You guys are good at what you do, so do it! Anything to try to get them through safely. They have to get west too!" The old woman pursed her lips again, pausing, then turned away and spread her arms. A moment later the cloud was drifting back upward to join the rest. Charmian watched it go, unable to shake her feeling of uneasiness. "But, Charmian," Winter Born said, "X'aaru might be able to make it out of the tunnel but what about Mishu? He needs to stay in the water, doesn't he?" "Mishupishus can survive out of water for a limited time," Moon Wolf said. "But as for traveling, that's another story. You've seen how they're built. He would never be able to make it far." Charmian gnawed her lip. "I can't think of anything else," she said at last, feeling her eyes stinging. "Maybe...maybe X'aaru can come back up, and Mishu can head back east on his own...? I don't want to send him away, but if it's the only way he can survive..." "HUMAN!" Kenu bellowed, making the ground shake; everyone braced themselves to avoid falling over. He clenched his pudgy fists. "You can't do that!" he protested. "He's my friend and he's coming and that's FINAL!" He turned and looked skyward. "They'll just HAVE to help him along, because I, the great ogimah Kenu, DEMAND it!" And he opened his mouth and the ground shook again, the air vibrating from the noise. Thomas, Charmian, and Winter Born all made faces and Winter Born rubbed at her ears. "And how the heck are they going to meet this demand...?" Charmian muttered, but the awful racket that the other Animiki started to make drowned her out, and everyone, even Mishosha, turned and stared southward as the clouds sped that way, darkening the sky as they converged and began hurling lightning bolts at the ground. They were far enough away that Charmian couldn't see what they were striking at, no matter how hard she strained her eyes; Marten turned into a bird and flew off, returning several moments later to land on her shoulder. He fluttered his wings. "WOW! You should SEE it, Charmian! They're throwing all this lightning and hitting the ground and breaking it all open and stuff! It looks really hard, because the ground is all frozen through like it was back at the bay, you remember, that purma-frost you talked about? And the dirt is just cracking open and there's big hunks just flying every which way, and snow blowing around, and wind and stuff..." "They can really do this without killing X'aaru and Mishu?" Charmian asked, now seriously doubting the wisdom of her request. "Of COURSE they can!" Kenu insisted. "Trust me! These Animiki have been perfecting their craft for THOUSANDS of moons. They can aim at things and hit them so much better than I can!" He blushed terribly, coughed, then shook it off. "Grandfather Nigankwam could hit a tadpole swimming in Gitchi-Gami from the bottom of his sky lodge, if he wanted!" Then his eyes grew wet and he sniffled. Maybe he could hit the tadpole, but would he hit everything else AROUND it, too...? Charmian didn't dare speak this aloud; she just chewed on her lip and twisted the fringe of her coat, staring southward at the tumult of lightning bolts arcing toward the ground. There seemed to be some sort of haze rising around it all by now, and she tried to determine whether it was snow, or loose soil, or what. "Go look again! It's driving me nuts!!" she yelled at Marten, who accordingly flew off. "I know those birds said they'd help us west, but we already know the direction, and just standing here waiting is a waste of time!" Manabozho called out from nearby. When Charmian looked at him he pointed west. "Why don't we keep going in the meantime and let them do their thing? There's one thing the little squab is right about, they have excellent aim when they want to." "HEY!" Kenu yelled in fury, right before Mani scooped him up in his antler and made off with him. Charmian hated the thought of heading off without knowing how the other two were doing, but Thomas grasped her arm and began pulling her along. Winter Born seemed just as reluctant but didn't need to be dragged; they stared southward at the clamor the entire time. There was an acrid smell in the air even at this distance, and she could feel her hair prickling. "I wish I'd told them to send Mishu back east," she murmured anxiously. She honestly couldn't think of a thing they could do to ensure the Lynx's safety from here on out, and even though he'd wanted to come, she hated the thought of endangering him. He'd been quite friendly, for a giant water monster. "They'll think of something," Winter Born said, but even her assurance didn't sound as confident as they usually did. Charmian could only sigh and duck her head into her hood, trying not to glance southward too often as they walked. X'aaru's nose twitched, but not because it was itchy. He peered from left to right as he swam, not moving his head itself, as he didn't want to draw any attention from the Lynx swimming along behind him. They'd spent a good part of their voyage talking about various things--comparing life in a cave to life in a lake, offering opinions on the different types of decor available in either, complimenting each other's ideas--but for some reason the demon felt a little awkward bringing up the fact that the water seemed to be growing ever colder the further that they swam. He tried not to shiver. Maybe it was just him. He'd never been so far from home, he knew he should be unused to all sorts of things. Then as soon as he thought this, he remembered Khiieta and Tiiku, and sighed to himself, ears drooping. I've never been this far from home, Mishupishu thought, and X'aaru blinked, as for a split second he thought he'd been the one who'd spoken. He peered back over his shoulder, his tail and feet swishing through the water to propel him, wings tucked close to his back. You too...? Mishupishu nodded, a bubble drifting up from his nose. His eyes were gloomy. I mean, I know Lynxes travel all over, but...I just preferred staying in my lake, you know? Not that I regret coming along to help you all out! Not at all! But...well, the water is different here. It's even getting colder. I know exactly what you mean! X'aaru exclaimed. The first thing I noticed when we left the Island was how different the water everywhere else is and--huh? You said it's getting colder--? He turned around now, waving his tail to keep from sinking. You feel it too? I thought maybe it was just me. Oh, no, definitely not! Mishupishu replied. It's certainly getting much colder! And not just the water, but...well, put your hand against the wall, you'll see what I mean. X'aaru did as he was told, placing one hand against the earth forming the side of the tunnel. His eyes grew and he had to pull back after a mere moment, rubbing his fingers together. They stung. See...? Mishupishu said. When the tunnel gets narrow my tail bumps into it, and I noticed how frigid it's getting! The earth is usually warmer down here! That's why we tend to stay in the underwater tunnels when winter comes, otherwise we'd never be able to stand it! Something must be happening outside, X'aaru murmured, feeling uneasy. He gently raked the wall with his claws, feeling how hard the soil was--harder than it had been before. Remember how hard it was snowing? It must be positively hideous out there by now! He shuddered. Oh! Mishupishu cried, his tail swishing from side to side in anxiety. I do so hope everyone is all right! Do you suppose we should find some way back up, and try to see--? Maybe if it's too cold they can get in my mouth again, I know I could keep them warm... I don't think they'd be able to get where they want to go that way, X'aaru said, his own anxiety increasing as he looked up at the tunnel ceiling. And I'm not even sure if there is any way up from here! What about you, can you sense any more tunnels anywhere--? I have to confess I didn't put much thought into how we're going to meet up with them again once they reach the west! I didn't really think about it much, either, Mishupishu admitted, wriggling his whiskers. I can feel some currents...there are other tunnels about, but none seem to lead upward just yet. I was rather hoping we'd just stumble across one, like that odd little Whiskey-fellow stumbled across us! He looked around. Do you suppose he might pop back in and lend us a hand...? I guess we shouldn't depend on him doing so, X'aaru sighed, and circled the tunnel, trying to feel the same currents that Mishupishu did; evidently Lynxes were better at this sort of thing than were Ocryxes. Maybe...maybe we could make our own? If we really tried hard at it? He tried to keep the nervousness out of his voice, unsure if he succeeded. Oh. Mishupishu swallowed audibly. Well...I suppose we could try it...though this earth must be terribly deep by now... His stare drifted ceilingward, and the two of them looked at the tunnel roof for a good long while. I'll try cracking at it with my horns, X'aaru said finally, just as Mishupishu said, I'll try hammering my head against it! The two of them looked at each other, eyes wide, then an instant later both were battering at the ceiling with their heads, grimacing but doing their best to shrug off how the violent actions made their skulls throb. Come on! Break! Break! Mishupishu cried. These horns have to be good for SOMETHING! X'aaru exclaimed. Break! Break! BREAK! BREAK! they both yelled, hoping somehow that their command might convince the earth to crumble more easily. They did manage to tear out a few small hunks of soil, but it seemed as hard as stone, and the dent they created was quite small compared to the headaches they were both getting by now. They pulled their heads back after a few moments of this and shook them dizzily. I think...I think maybe it's working, X'aaru said, dazed. Maybe if I give it one more really good crack, Mishupishu, somewhat more in command of his senses, said, and before X'aaru could stop him, he launched himself at the dent, slamming into it with an awful crash that made the entire tunnel shudder. X'aaru quailed when the Underwater Lynx drifted back to the tunnel's bottom and gently settled there, his eyes spinning. Mishu! he cried, swimming around the creature's head. Are you--are you all right?! Oh no! Did you crack open your head? He sniffed over Mishupishu's horns, his spines, and carefully palpated his brow, praying that he wouldn't find something awful. Did...did I break it...? Mishupishu murmured faintly; X'aaru was going to ask him whether he meant the tunnel or his head, when the walls shuddered again, and then again, and the demon gasped and glanced upward. Mishupishu's eyes, still quivering, managed to roll upward as well. I'm...I'm not sure, X'aaru admitted. They stared at the dent in the ceiling, watching little cracks begin to appear around it as the thudding booming noises from beyond increased. These started coming in quick succession, until the tunnel was filled with the awful noise, and the two of them pressed close together and shivered in fear as hunks of dirt drifted loose to land on the bottom or be carried off by the current. Their eyes widened as the dent grew. I didn't know I could hit it that hard! Mishupishu gasped. I must've loosened something! Do you think--do you think maybe we should keep swimming? X'aaru suggested, teeth chattering. Because if it caves in-- Oh goodness! Swim, yes, swim! Mishupishu pushed himself up from the floor, his little forelimbs waving frantically, and X'aaru turned about and zoomed off, the Lynx right on his tail as the tunnel roof began crumbling in. Swim for your life!! |