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Escape From Manitou Island: Part 196 |
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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.)
PICKING BATTLES CHARMIAN JERKED UPRIGHT with a gasp of disbelief when Megissogwun effortlessly stepped out of Winter Born's bubble-prison and glanced up at them, looking just the same as before, calling out, "And what was that supposed to do to me?" Kenu let out a little cry, burying himself in X'aaru's wings as the demon yelped in fear. Winter Born, for her part, could only stare mutely at the manitou, and Charmian could tell that even if she weren't paralyzed with fear or confusion, there was no way she would have enough medicine left to try that again. But that confused her as well--why hadn't it worked--? "Like I said, your medicine is incredibly impressive," Megissogwun had to shout, seeing as he was at the bottom of a crater, "but aside from you pelting me with stones, it seems to have no effect whatsoever on me. So, your point in putting on such a useless show--?" It should've worked! It should've WORKED! Charmian's mind railed, unable to believe or understand it. She remembered how easily Winter Born had swept away Kabebonikka's wind manitous--of course they were nowhere near Megissogwun in power, but still, at least it should have HAMPERED him somewhat! Yet Megissogwun was now looking himself over, seeming somewhat perplexed himself; she could tell he too had expected some sort of damage. The only injuries he had were the ones Manabozho's attack had given him--Winter Born's attack had not only failed to keep him imprisoned, but it had failed to weaken him, as well. It hadn't done a single thing. Winter Born turned to Charmian, eyes brimming. "I'm...I'm sorry!" she whispered, then let out a breath and slumped against X'aaru's leg. Megissogwun frowned, then held up his hand and pulled it back as if hefting a giant rock. Charmian threw up her own hands and fire leapt to her fingertips, but then what looked to be a row of jagged icicles suddenly protruded from his chest, like somebody had just stuck him on a gigantic fork, and he glanced down at them in surprise. Charmian didn't even take the time to think about it. Grasping Winter Born by the arm, she hauled her atop X'aaru's back, Kenu leaping atop and helping her up as well; the demon flapped his wings and rose unsteadily into the air. Charmian glanced down into the crater to see Megissogwun break the icicles loose, snarling at the fresh blood streaming down his chest. "I hardly have time to go after such insignificant mites anyway! Go ahead and run away while you have the chance. Your Island won't miss you." Charmian's fingers reflexively dug into X'aaru's fur, her heart crowding into her throat. No matter how fast the demon flew it felt like they'd never reach the others in time; at that moment, however, a gale of wind arose behind them, and X'aaru yelped again when it propelled him forward faster than his wings could flap. Charmian and Kenu chattered; a patch of air to the right swirled and took shape, and Pakwa glanced at them, only his large yellow eyes clearly visible in the darkening sky. "Everyone in one piece?" he asked. Charmian let out a breath and nodded. "Yeah, so far. We have to get back to the others and find a fast way east, or else some way to stall him! Our backup plan didn't work!" The GeeBee gave a curt nod and flew on ahead of them. Charmian rubbed her arms, wishing she was still wearing her winter jacket, but at least they were making better time. She hated the expectant looks on everyone's faces when X'aaru came in for a clumsy landing beyond sight of the former ravine; they'd made good progress across the plain so far, but she knew they'd have to find a faster way now. The look on her own face must have been obvious, for the hopeful expressions began to fade and be replaced by disappointment, worry, and fear. She bit the inside of her mouth, feeling utterly foolish. Black Elk Horn pushed his way forward to take the unconscious Winter Born down from X'aaru's back. "She's okay," Charmian said hastily. "Just really tired...she'll recover. She wasn't hurt or anything." The ogimah said nothing--didn't even start railing at her about how stupid an idea this was--just turned away with Winter born cradled in his arms. Charmian didn't know what was worse, his ranting or his silence; at least with the former she knew where she stood. "I take it it didn't work," Francois said, stepping up to the demon; Charmian shook her head and he frowned. "I thought for sure it would work, or at least slow him down a little!" she insisted. "And it really looked like it was going to...but then he just broke right out of it and he was fine! I mean, as fine as he could be, considering what 'Bozho did. But Winter Born's attack did zilch. I don't understand it. I saw her medicine and I know she's the strongest in this group, aside from when 'Bozho went all Michibou. At the very least she should've hampered him somewhat." "Perhaps there's something we're missing...?" Francois started to say, but now Stick-In-The-Dirt, Singing Cedars, Thomas, and Niskigwun had crowded around her and were busy pulling her down and fretting over her. It took a bit to convince them she wasn't hurt and it was actually X'aaru who had been hit; she wanted to pull loose and yell that they had to get moving, but she saw that Francois had already started directing the others to do so, and within seconds she'd been placed on Mani's back instead. "Mani's perfectly fine, isn't he?" she snapped. "If I were hurt he would've been hurt too, you know!" "I doubt we can hope to reach the Island before that manitou does," Niskigwun said, jogging alongside. "Even if the fastest of us were to reach there, what of the rest--?" "Right now we focus on prevention--however it's done," Charmian said. "Even if it means some of us stall him while some of us keep going. It's better to try to stop him before he gets there. He's still moving slow. When 'Bozho wakes up, I'll send him after him to keep him slowed down even more. But we need to figure out a way to call back those Lynxes--they're what I'm worried about!" "Aren't there supposed to be some Thunderbirds watching the Island?"* Thomas asked. "Ishkode's guys were there, last I knew. But seeing what happened to Nigankwam..." she peered back at Kenu, who was still with X'aaru, patting the demon's head and encouraging him "...I really don't think they'd be nearly enough. Even Nigankwam admitted* his men weren't enough to stop the last batch of Lynxes. I'm wondering if maybe we can call on another resource." Niskigwun prompted, "Such as?" The Red Swan, Charmian thought, but didn't say it; what she'd just learned from Chakenapok still troubled her. She chewed on her thumbnail instead. The others stared at her for a moment, then turned away. She couldn't stop turning over in her head what had happened and how it could have happened at all. I don't get it. She creamed Kabebonikka's whirlwinds. She KILLED Mishosha's manitou! How come she took them down so easily but couldn't even give Megissogwun a scratch...? "Perhaps there's something we're missing...?" A rustling noise came beside her and Thomas and Niskigwun fell back. Black Elk Horn fell into step beside the manitou, still carrying his daughter. "She's waking up," he said, and Charmian looked down to see how her eyes fluttered and her head moved. Winter Born blinked blearily a few times, peering up at her father, then at Charmian. She seemed confused for a moment or two before memory apparently came back to her and her eyes filled with tears again. Charmian opened her mouth to tell her it was all right, but Winter Born spoke first. "I'm sorry, Charmian," she said in a small cracked voice. "I did everything you told me to! You know that, right? I wasn't even afraid to go after him like I was with those others because he's not from the Island, so it didn't feel too wrong attacking him, but I guess what I have isn't enough..." Not from the Island--? From the ISLAND! "The whirlwinds and the mitchi manitou," Charmian whispered; Winter Born trailed off and the others looked up at her again. "That's what we're missing. What they had in common. The mitchi manitou was from Manitou Island--he was one of the old manitous before they became the Shadow Wolves. Kabebonikka himself said he called those whirlwinds here from the Island! All the guys Winter Born defeated so far were from Manitou Island!" "Megissogwun isn't," Stick-In-The-Dirt said, then understanding entered his eyes. "Ah." "Wait a minute!" Niskigwun fanned his wings and jogged in front of them. "You mean to say that her power works--just only on beings from the Island?" "There's one way to find out." Charmian glanced around, then whistled; Kenu's head popped up from where it had been resting upon X'aaru's. "Kenu! And Moon Wolf. Come here." She glanced down at Winter Born. "Winter Born. Do you have any strength in you yet?" Black Elk Horn's grip grew noticeably tighter, making Winter Born wince, but she waggled her legs and got him to set her down. "I think so...not very much, though. I can't do anything useful with it." Her lip quivered. "I just want a test, is all. Nothing much." Kenu and Moon Wolf approached, looking puzzled. "Kenu, move a bit closer to Moon Wolf. Both of you side by side. Like that." She climbed down from Mani, taking Winter Born's hand and leading her some distance away. They stopped and turned around to face the others. "The rest of you move a safe distance away," she said, and that must have clarified things, for she got some very choice looks right then. "She's not going to KILL me, is she?!" Kenu wailed, throwing his arms over his head. Moon Wolf cuffed him on the ear and he dropped his arms but still looked panicked. "I don't want to attack THEM!" Winter Born cried. Charmian knelt down and took her shoulders. "Look...you just said you don't have much power right now. So it's fine. Kenu's a lot stronger than he looks--aren't you, Kenu?" The little Animiki sucked in a sniffle and blinked. "I--I am?" he blurted out; then, "Of course I am!" He hurriedly rubbed his damp eyes and stood as tall as he could, his head barely making it to Moon Wolf's waist. "Anything you may throw at me, I can take! I am, after all, a mighty Animiki whereas you're only a human..." Moon Wolf threatened to cuff him again but he seemed to get the point, and flinched away. Winter Born shook her head. "But what about--" "Moon Wolf's powerful too," Charmian said. "He can take it. Just do what I say and prove if I'm right or wrong, okay? Throw an attack at them--it doesn't even have to be anywhere near what you did to Megissogwun--and see what happens." "This should be interesting," Mishosha said, folding his arms. Charmian gave him a rude gesture. "It's only because I don't want you trying something stupid that I didn't call YOU up to take this!" she snapped, then moved back from Winter Born, turning her toward the other two. "You know what to do?" "I--I guess," Winter Born said, rubbing at her own eye; she stood still for a moment or so before taking in and letting out a deep breath, seeming to relax. A few more moments passed; Charmian could tell that the others had no idea what was going on, as they frowned and tilted their heads, but she could see the medicine building around Winter Born again--not as brightly as before, but still impressive enough. It slowly billowed outward, then, just when she was beginning to grow antsy, it drew back in, forming the white glowing line; Winter Born casually raised one hand, Kenu covered his head, and the next moment he and Moon Wolf were surrounded by a brilliant glow. In a split second Charmian saw surprise flicker across Moon Wolf's face, then he'd been thrown backwards, landing hard on the ground; he managed to throw up his arms, grimacing, and ward off the worst of the attack, his fire shrinking the medicine away from him, though she could tell it cost him some effort. Kenu, on the other hand, still stood with his arms over his head and his teeth chattering; when he noticed Moon Wolf struggling on the ground, he slowly lowered his arms, looking confused, then glanced at Winter Born, then started looking himself over. "Hey!--I mean, behold!" he cried. "I feel something all around me but it's not doing anything to me! Am I supposed to be falling over and writhing and stuff--?" "So it's true," Niskigwun said, furrowing his brow. "Her medicine has little or no effect on those not from the Island!" "Well," Mishosha said, snorting. "Seeing as your great plan was to get HER to defeat that wretch, what good do you figure you'll do with her now?" "Shut up!" Charmian snapped, Winter Born letting out another breath and drawing her medicine back; Moon Wolf pushed himself up from the ground, still wincing. "We think of something else she can do! Just because one plan fails doesn't mean we can't come up with an even better one." "But what good am I if I can't fight him?" Winter Born asked in a small voice. "If he were from the Island, maybe I could do something, but I can't even give him a scratch..." "We'll think of something," Charmian said again, even though no ideas came to mind. She hated the despondent look on the little girl's face, and wanted to deck Mishosha for being so--well, Mishosha. "In the meantime though we stall him. He's pretty beat up...is 'Bozho awake yet?" "Not yet," Peepaukawiss called; Charmian looked to see that Manabozho was sprawled over the back of one of Singing Cedars's okis. His brother poked at him. "And I've been tickling him and telling him the most outrageous jokes ever...any other time that earns me a slap, but right now, nothing!" "Take him to the nearest waterhole you can find and dunk him in it a few dozen times," Charmian said. "I think Mishu said something about there being some surfacing holes in the area*. Maybe that'll snap him out of it, or at least piss him off enough to wake up. You can also try to get news from Mishu on the other Lynxes." Singing Cedars whistled and he and the oki and Puka, with Manabozho's unconscious body, trotted off northward. "Meanwhile, we try to catch up with Megissogwun and keep him distracted. I just hope he hasn't gone too far yet." She climbed back atop Mani. "I'm going to try to get in touch with someone," she added, and shut her eyes. The others shared a few glances. "Who is there to get in touch with...?" Stick-In-The-Dirt asked; after a moment they seemed to realize what she meant, and fell silent, though their looks were apprehensive. Charmian didn't bother trying to explain. She focused and tried to pick up on Chakenapok's signal, wherever it was, hoping he himself still had a connection. Megissogwun stood in the crater for quite a long while--listening or waiting for any sign of the others, he told himself, which was true, though he also didn't particularly feel like moving just yet. The odd attack he'd just undergone hadn't done anything, but his earlier injuries, plus the icicle wounds to his chest, still pained him, and he wasn't used to being so injured that it was a bother just to move. After some time he turned and limped through the rubble, waving his hand--with the next step he was back in his traveling cave and it was moving again, and he glanced at the pile of furs to see the little girl, but she wasn't there. Instead she was up at the vision wall, staring into it as it glowed; as soon as she saw him she yelped and hopped back, leaping into the furs and out of sight, and the wall went dark. Megissogwun leaned against it with one hand and could feel its fear. "So my wall has been telling you things behind my back, small child?" he grated, trying to catch his breath. "N...no!" a muffled voice replied. "Nothing...nothing interesting, anyway." Then that means she has seen something interesting. "I should like to know exactly what it is you've been doing in my cave while I'm gone," he said; the top of her head now emerged, messy hair and wide eyes, and she pushed her upper half loose, clasping onto the dead wolf and hugging it to her; it had acquired an unpleasant smell by now*, and her dress was stained with its now-dried blood, but she didn't seem to notice or care. Instead she looked him up and down and then put a knuckle to her mouth. "Your chest is all bloody. Did Papa get you again?" "You know very well your papa did not come after me again," Megissogwun said. "For some reason pathetic Wendigo medicine was able to do this. It does not matter. This is the second* time I've seen you using my wall, which means you seem to have an affinity for it, so I'd like to know what exactly you've been doing." "I don't have any finnities!" Turtle insisted. "And I can't help it that your wall likes me more than it likes you! Erp--" She jammed all her knuckles in her mouth, now. He frowned, then stepped toward her, making her shrink back. "I think you should start talking now," he said, "before I decide to go back on my promise. I did it before, with that bear bitch who hurt my arm, so I can easily do it again." This at last seemed to rile her up, and she scattered several of the furs waving her arms. "How dare you! What sort of manitou breaks his promises? Not a real one! Maybe you wouldn't have to break so many promises if you stopped trying to hurt people! Ever think of that? You'd probably stop getting hurt yourself, too! First whoever got your arm, then Papa, then the red girl, no wonder you're in such a mood all the time--" "Red girl?" Megissogwun's voice came out like poison; Turtle eeped and ducked back into the furs. He stuck his hand in and hauled her back out by her collar so her feet dangled along with the dead wolf's tail and legs. "Tell me what you saw in that wall, brat, before you end up as hollow as this wolf." The little girl's face blanched. "You--you don't have to be so mean!" she said, voice cracking. "Maybe if you asked your wall nice! Anyway it's just stuff you already know, I'm sure of it! Why else would the wall show me? When your arm got all hurt, you said that was the second person who did that to you, well, I'm betting the red girl got you first, though Papa says it's not nice to bet." She squirmed. "That's all I got to say about it. Put me down! My neck hurts!" Megissogwun lowered her back to the furs, though only because he had no more use of questioning her, not out of any respect for her request. He turned to look at the wall. It was dark and blank. Memories, then. Nothing new. But why show her, and what does this have to do with anything? Right after that strange girl mentioned the "Red Swan"... There is no way they can be the same person. But... His thoughts trailed off, for he had no clue what to think next, it was too confusing. He preferred things to be straightforward, not confusing, especially now that every bone in his body ached and all he wanted to do was get this over with and then rest. He held up a hand, planning to force the wall, if he had to, to show him what it had shown her, when the entire cave jolted and shook, nearly making him fall over, and scattering the pile of furs so that Turtle cried out and went rolling across the floor. "Hey! You don't have to go so fast!" she exclaimed, getting to her feet and scurrying around, trying to gather up the furs. "That wasn't me," Megissogwun growled, placing his hand against the wall and calling it up. It flashed, showing the wide flat landscape around them, then all of a sudden this blurred and broke into tiny fragments and then the cave was jarred violently again. This time he saw the walls ripple--although it was a real cave, with real stone and mineral, it was also made of medicine, and something had just attacked hard enough to make that waver. If his own medicine had been at its full strength, he could have had complete control over it and this wouldn't be an issue; in his weakened state, however, the cave too was weakened, and apparently somebody or something was taking advantage of that. Nobody out there should be able to see this cave, much less be strong enough to attack it. What's going on? Who's doing this? He tried to call up another vision in the wall. It blearily obliged, sending another view of the landscape surrounding, then just as before this blurred and seemed to crystallize--that was it, it looked exactly like tiny ice crystals were forming all over his field of vision--and again the wall went blank, and the cave shook. This time the impact was so violent that he and Turtle were thrown sideways, both knocked from their feet; he ended up slamming into the side wall and she landed atop him with a squeak. Megissogwun shook his head dizzily and blinked a few times, glancing around. He wasn't imagining it. The cave was almost on its side. "Who'd you get mad this time?" Turtle, sitting on his chest, asked. In response he grasped her collar and set her on the floor, rolling over and pushing himself up. If it was strong enough to do this to his cave, then it was strong enough to slow him down. He didn't relish the thought of going out and facing it, but he at least had to know what he was up against. Before it had been easy enough to sweep aside anyone in his way, but now he had to pick his battles, and he hardly had time to take on every idiot who beset him. He waved at the wall--before he could have simply stepped through, but he didn't have the strength to chance it just now--and it wavered enough for him to pass through it. He set foot in the grass and glanced about quickly, hoping to see the cause of the trouble and figure out how to deal with it, but nothing was there. He blinked. He felt medicine, and it was oddly familiar, but not in a way that he could place. "Aww! What's wrong? Lose your way?" a voice from somewhere above called out--Megissogwun's head shot back to look up, just in time for something to crash into him and slam him to the ground. |