|
Escape From Manitou Island: Part 211 |
|
(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.)
SORE SPOTS "WELL WELL WELL! How lovely! An AUDIENCE to watch me finish this shrinking weasel off once and for all!" Augwak spread out his arms and grinned widely, then clapped and let out an awful, shrieky laugh. Everyone gathered before him winced at the noise but he seemed so delighted that he started capering about doing cartwheels much like the ones Manabozho had been doing earlier. "So where is it?" Niskigwun snapped, trying to catch the frolicking GeeBee's attention. "Megissogwun's traveling cave? We know it has to be somewhere in this area else you wouldn't be wasting your time!" "Very true!" Augwak's motions had become so fast that he'd turned into little more than a blur, but now he halted, balancing on his hands. He raised one so he stood on just the other, putting a finger to his chin thoughtfully. "It wouldn't make sense, now, for me to just be out here all by my lonesome! Turns out this wretched cave is a bit tougher than I thought, but it's only a matter of time before I do it in." He pushed himself up and hovered in the air, narrowing his eyes at them. "Why do you care all of a sudden where it is--? It's MY business to finish him off now, after how he humiliated me!" "You know full well you're not nearly strong enough to do that," Moon Wolf said. Augwak made a face and shook a fist at him. "Back off, insignificant fire-tosser! You'd be amazed just how good I'm feeling right now and I won't let YOU go spoiling it!" "I don't think the cave's here at all," Remy said matter-of-factly. "If it was, wouldn't he be all over it?" Augwak clenched both fists now. "Insignificant BRAT! I'll show you 'all over it'!" He leapt into the air, did a flip, and landed, but not on the ground. The others frowned curiously when he started hammering his hands against something they couldn't even see, kicking and battering it for good measure. "THERE! How's THAT for not being here at all--?" "Can't believe he actually fell for that," Thomas said out of the corner of his mouth. He held up his hand. "Think it'd hurt any if I tried something?" "If he hasn't managed to do much, then I doubt your efforts would make a difference," Moon Wolf said. "Not meant in offense." "None taken. Just want to get a look at it for myself." Thomas swung his hand and a gust of freezing wind sailed out toward Augwak. The GeeBee blinked in surprise before shooting upward just in time to avoid getting hit; the gust instead hit the space he'd been occupying, and everyone's eyes widened when a vaguely roundish section of the air seemed to solidify under its coating of frost, taking on the appearance of a boulder or a giant milky crystal. This lasted only a few seconds before melting away and it was invisible again. "I guess it's there after all," Thomas said. "Now what?" Augwak landed several yards ahead of them and commenced stamping his feet and flailing his arms like an angry monkey. "HOW DARE YOU! You pathetic third-rate inconsequential halfling! What makes you think you can dare to take on the might of--" He cut himself off, freezing in place, balanced precariously on one foot. He blinked once or twice, then his eyes grew as huge as moons, his mouth falling open. An odd squeaky noise escaped him. Thomas furrowed his brow and glanced back toward Mishosha. "Do you have some kind of medicine doll working on him--?" Augwak fell to all fours again, drawing in on himself so he looked quite small. "It's--it's--her?" he stammered, then his teeth started clacking like a tapdancer's shoes. "But--but--that's impossible! She's ASLEEP! What--what would she be doing here--?" The others turned their heads to look west. "Guess they're almost here," Thomas said. "We should probably clear out of the way," Francois warned. "Give them a straight path to the cave if they want it." "But--I don't understand!" Augwak wailed. "I CAN'T have felt that right! You mean to tell me it really is her--? If so then--then--what on earth--" "Someone's coming," Little Wind said, holding his fireball and pointing west. Two small shapes had appeared in the distance, resolving into the forms of the strange bizhiki-spirits* with riders on their backs. "Only two?" Niskigwun furrowed his brow. "Then where..." A halloo came from one of the shapes, then they could make out Charmian and Winter Born as the riders. Thomas, Stick-In-The-Dirt, and Singing Cedars let out audible sighs of relief and went jogging toward them as they drew close, Charmian making an awful face and squirming. "UGH I had no idea this would be so uncomfortable!! Can anybody help me down--? It's like getting off an elephant!" Winter Born leapt easily from her mount, Black Elk Horn catching her. "I thought it was fun! Are we here in time--?" "In time for what?" Niskigwun called out as the others started to surround them, leaving Augwak curled up and chattering. "You two are the only ones to arrive so far." "Huh?" Charmian glanced around, brow furrowing. "You mean--she isn't here yet? How the heck did we lose her?" She shielded her eyes and scanned the horizons. "That--that--bitch! And I mean it literally! You won't believe how much trouble she's been giving us this whole frigging time..." "You mean--she's actually free?" Stick-In-The-Dirt asked, face going pale. "She's really coming?" "Well--she should've been here already!" Charmian let herself be helped down by Thomas and Singing Cedars. "Cripes, if she's gone and bailed out on us, I can't describe what things I'm going to do to her when I lock her up again..." "The Pearl Feather's nearby...?" Winter Born asked, rubbing her hands together and looking rather anxious. Niskigwun pointed toward where the cave had appeared. "Over there. One can't see it unless it's coated with something, but it doesn't seem to be traveling quickly." "Well, at least we didn't lose him," Charmian said. "Because if this doesn't work, then I'm about to give up! Is there any other news--?" She glanced toward a rabbit that came hopping toward them. "Manabozho! You're okay--?" "Of course I'm 'okay,'" the rabbit scoffed, changing back into Manabozho with a glittery poof. "Why wouldn't I be after such a long rest?" He too pointed in the direction of the cave. "I can't sense it when I'm like this...but I know I can sense it when I'm Michibou. If finding it to attack is any problem for you, just ask. I know I can point it out or hold it down if you need it." "What I honestly need right now is to figure out where Ocryana is!" At the mention of the demon's name, several in the group, Stick-In-The-Dirt and Black Elk Horn among them, flinched and made faces. "I want to say something," Charmian added, turning to face them. "I know she's still the same Ocryana who nearly destroyed the Island and probably would try again if given the chance, but don't be too freaked out by her. Trust me. It's not worth the energy. Chakenapok might've been one of the nastiest toughest guys I ever faced but in the end he was just a spoiled bratty baby playing a stupid game. No offense, Chakenapok," she said to the air. None taken...I think, Chakenapok's voice said so they all could hear. "And Ocryx seems all menacing and badass and stuff but when you get right down to it he's mostly bark and little bite; he's just a big noisy baby too." Charmian shrugged. "Well, it's kind of the same here. I was all ready to be scared and stuff but I think she's more likely to kill me with her whining than anything else." "It's true," Winter Born said, nodding vigorously. Charmian would have spoken further but Stick-In-The-Dirt had hurried forward and placed a hand over her mouth. "Stop speaking of her like that! One would think you've forgotten how strong she is. Perhaps she might act like a child but even children can destroy things, and she isn't a child, she's a demon!" Charmian pulled his hand away. "It's okay, Stick. I know. If anything I have to make sure I keep in mind how dangerous she is, but I don't want or need anyone screaming or running away whenever she drags her butt here. She'll just feed off it. If we keep it together, then she can focus on what's important. If I just knew where the heck she went off to..." Manabozho glanced at the ground and furrowed his brow. He stared at the earth so intently that she paused to wait for him to speak; he at last looked up at her, seeming perplexed. "I don't know if you know, but Mishupishu is hiding down there. He's said the other Lynxes are on their way to the Island." Worry flickered across Charmian's face. "But that's not the issue. He just told me he felt something else making its way along the water tunnel after him..." he paused, as if listening, then made an awful face "...and he says it feels a lot like the wolf demon who was with him earlier, only really unpleasant." "What?" Charmian exclaimed. "Marten! Loons!" She snapped her fingers and the three of them approached, Marten bounding toward her and the loons waddling along. "Go look back the way we came a bit then come right back!" Kwemoo and Maang took off, Marten changing into a bird and flying away with them; a moment later they returned, the loons landing awkwardly while Marten perched on Charmian's outstretched arm and changed back into himself, pointing. "GEE! There's this big huge honking HOLE in the ground!" "O-ho! Indeed a mighty hole!" and "A mighty hole indeed, o-ho!" contributed the loons. "With water sloshing in it," Charmian said, at which the Mikumwesu's eyes widened and he nodded. "Wow, how'd you know that?" "Lucky guess." She let him hop down and looked to Winter Born. "She must've gone down there when we weren't looking and we went right past without seeing her." "I should've kept a closer eye on her," Winter Born lamented. "No use crying over spilled maple syrup," Manabozho said. "Do you have any idea what she's doing down there?" "My guess is we'll find out..." Charmian trailed off and her stare drifted toward the ground. "...Soon enough." Everyone followed suit, looking down at their feet, uneasiness filling their faces. Nothing was happening, but it felt almost as if the ground were vibrating without actually vibrating...the sensation was a strange one, and Remy, Winter Born, Marten, and Kenu* started making faces and shifting from foot to foot, X'aaru and Mani and the okis bristling and doing the same. Augwak even leapt atop the invisible cave again, shaking his hands and feet as if they were wet. "You mean she's coming?" he cried. "Here? How can this be? What in the world did you just do, fleshling? After all we did to lock her away you set her free? I thought you were trying to SAVE the Island, not make DOUBLY sure it's destroyed!!" "Maybe if you hadn't bailed out so early you'd've gotten the full story!" Charmian snapped. "Until then, shut up! I don't exactly see you finishing him off." The vibration-that-wasn't-a-vibration grew stronger until they could hear it; the two bizhiki-spirits lowed and turned, trotting away. Charmian wrapped her arms around her middle and made a gagging noise. "My ribs feel like they're going to turn into spaghetti!! How long is this going to--" The ground just several yards in front of her suddenly erupted, hunks of earth and grass shooting every which way; everyone covered their heads and dodged in every direction with startled cries. This was followed by a gout of water shooting up into the air like a geyser; it splattered back to earth, soaking them all, and Charmian and Thomas had to wipe their hair from their eyes in order to see. Winter Born, wearing braids, had no such problem; she was already staring skyward, mouth open. She shot to her feet and went racing a short distance away where she stopped and clenched her fists, biting her lip and looking anxious but prepared for something. Charmian and Thomas stared at her only a second before glancing back at the water, then thinking to look up as well. A large dark shape rode the crest* of the water just as Charmian had seen Ocryx do when arising from his lake; its wings fanned out, then it plunged downward, scattering everyone again. Ocryana struck the ground with a thunderous boom and the earth cracked beneath her clawed feet; she hunched her wings in toward herself and let out a cackle fit to rival anything of Augwak's. Speaking of Augwak, the GeeBee promptly vanished in a puff of wind. Charmian winced in pain, looking aside to find her arm being clutched by Stick-In-The-Dirt. His face had gone almost white, teeth bared in a panicked grimace; she tried to pry his fingers away, to no avail. "What have we done?" he whisper-cried. "It's okay," Charmian said back. "Look, Winter Born's ready and everything! Don't worry. I know what I'm doing." The look on his face didn't change any and she felt a twinge of disappointment that he doubted her so much; Thomas at last managed to free her arm and she rose, taking several steps forward to survey the situation. Lieutenant Barrington, Black Elk Horn, and Baptiste all had their guns trained on the demon; Francois had his gun ready as well but at least he wasn't aiming yet. When Ocryana arose to her full height and spread her wings, a blast rang through the air; Charmian got ready to whirl toward Barrington and scream at him, only to notice that both he and Baptiste had dropped to the ground at the noise, and smoke was coming from Black Elk Horn's barrel. Even Black Elk Horn looked surprised, staring at the gun as if it had a mind of its own; Charmian belatedly thought to look at Ocryana, dreading the thought of what she might see, but the demon seemed unscathed, holding one hand in the air. Ocryana opened her hand and some sort of small pellets* pattered to the ground. She gave Charmian an irked look, muzzle wrinkled in that familiar way of hers, and said, "What sort of greeting is this, little girl? I thought you wanted me here to help you...?" "She caught the shot...?" Thomas whispered, his own face going white. Charmian grimaced again and jerked a hand at the others; Francois nudged the barrel of Black Elk Horn's gun down with his own. Ocryana kicked the scattered shot aside and dropped to all fours, stalking through their midst; everyone made sure to keep a respectful distance away, and Charmian was relieved to see Winter Born following the demon's movements the entire time. Ocryana didn't even seem to notice her. She halted about halfway between Charmian and the location of the traveling cave, looked around, then reached up and made an abrupt yanking motion at the air. With a startled squawk, Augwak appeared, his neck in her grasp, and she pulled him back to earth to look him in the face. Charmian couldn't believe any being's eyes could grow so huge without falling out; he started chattering and she had a flash of memory, of a time when Ocryana had stolen the GeeBee's spirit right out of his chest, and though the incident had ended up working in her favor, she didn't relish the thought of anyone's spirits ending up in the wrong place again. She made a motion at Winter Born and the sliver-thin line of glow appeared around her. Ocryana must have sensed this, for she looked over at the little girl at last and her eyes narrowed. Her near-choking grip on Augwak's neck loosened a bit but she didn't let him go; she turned to him again and her nostrils flared as if he smelled bad. "I see yet more things haven't changed, if they're seeking help from a weakling like you. Still getting yourself into trouble, too, I see? Shows how brainless GeeBees are, even a dog learns to behave itself if knocked upside the head enough times." She released him at last and Augwak shot up into the air to a safe distance, hissing and shaking a fist at her but making sure to disappear again when she bared her teeth just slightly in mock-warning. Ocryana turned back to the rest of them and let her stare wander across their group, smirking as if she found them to be a quite pathetic bunch; then she reached Moon Wolf, and the smile vanished in an instant. Judging by the way she blinked and her eyes widened, Charmian guessed that, even though she'd learned a few things from Chakenapok while unconscious, she apparently hadn't learned about this. She peered toward Moon Wolf herself but he kept the look on his face carefully guarded and she couldn't tell what he might be thinking. There was a brief, tense silence, then Ocryana's tail swished across the ground. "Well," she said, eyes narrowing again and a very unpleasant look coming to her face. "I take it the Spirit Land wasn't too interested in keeping you." Another short pause, then her stare drifted toward Charmian, who had to swallow just to find her voice. "Yeah...interesting how things work out, isn't it? But this isn't the time for that. The guy we want you to--" "He's right over there, isn't he, I assume?" Ocryana swung her head sideways, pointing toward the invisible cave with her horn. Manabozho, standing not too far from it, blinked in surprise, then stormed forward and stopped directly in front of her. He shook a finger in her face, earning a frown, and Charmian believed he must be the only person in their group brave or stupid enough to do that. "What! You mean you can sense that thing? When nobody else here has that ability? What sort of trick is this?" Ocryana just gave him an oily smile. The water still sloshing about in the hole she'd blasted in the ground started splashing a bit and Charmian and those nearest her looked toward it to see Mishupishu peek out, just his horns, eyes, and the tip of his muzzle visible, then disappear again; Charmian crossed her arms and rolled her eyes skywards. "She doesn't sense it, 'Bozho. The Lynxes do and she just picked up on that! Nice try, though." Manabozho snorted and crossed his own arms, lifting his chin. "Pff. Knew it. Of course only beings aligned with that wretch could sense it, or else manitous of the highest order, of which you're certainly not one." He disappeared just as quickly as Augwak; Ocryana's hand had swung out, claws extended, and would have easily snapped him in two had he still been standing there. An ugly snarl escaped her throat and Manabozho reappeared, hovering upside-down in midair. He shook his head and made a tsk-tsk noise. "Who is it who hasn't changed? I see I've hit a sore spot. I wonder how long it'll be before you get over the fact that you're no longer a manitou but a...well...you know." The look on Ocryana's face grew positively hideous and Charmian saw the red swirling around her; the thin brilliant line around Winter Born only increased as well, however, and she didn't try attacking a second time. Charmian felt her ears grow warm to notice that everyone was watching them intently, as if caught suddenly in the middle of a soap opera; when her mind made this analogy she had to refrain from sticking her tongue out in disgust. What a stupid thought to think at a time like this, like every danger they faced would end with some kind of lame cliffhanger. She hopped a bit, startled, when Ocryana's head swung back and the demon snarled at her, "Where is this nuisance I'm to take care of, that I might smash his head in before taking it out on one of you?" "In that traveling cave," Charmian said, trying not to stammer, "right where the Lynxes said it is. He's already injured which is why he isn't moving much. But he's incredibly strong. He might--" Ocryana raised one hand as if to throw a fireball in the direction of the cave, and the red around her pulsed to life. "How about I save us the time and simply obliterate the entire thing--?" "This creature is rather interesting," Mishosha remarked, looking on with his hands tucked in his sleeves. Manabozho reappeared directly between Ocryana and the cave's last location, arms outspread and eyes flashing blue. "DON'T YOU EVEN DARE!" he boomed, his voice making the ground quake and several of the others nearly lose their balance. "Megissogwun isn't the ONLY one in that cave!" he snapped, eyes returning to normal. "But he's the only one who needs taking care of. The only reason I let that idiot GeeBee attack is because I knew he stood no chance of breaking in--" "HEY!" Augwak reappeared, shook his fist, and disappeared when Ocryana glanced up at him. "I'm getting dizzy," Baptiste said, lowering his gun to put his hands to his head. "--But as for you, seeing as Charmian thinks you somehow stand some tiny chance of getting through, leave the CAVE alone and focus on who's INSIDE it!" Ocryana rolled her eyes. "Any suggestions as for how I get him to come out, then, without hurting whatever precious stupid little thing you've got waiting in th--" She blinked, and Charmian did too; a hairline slice of red appeared on the demon's cheek and a droplet of blood slid down her face. Peepaukawiss's hands flew up to his mouth. "OH! Baby Brother! Don't go attacking her now!" "Wha--?" Charmian exclaimed, glancing at Thomas, who shrugged, obviously confused, then at Moon Wolf, who only shook his head curtly. "What the heck--? I didn't see him do anything!!" "Peepaukawiss has the fastest sight out of any of us!" Marten said. "Remember? I wonder if even Glooskap can see things that fast..." Puka wasn't exactly elaborating, being too busy holding his hands to his face and hopping from foot to foot as if he had to go, so Charmian looked back to Manabozho and Ocryana for clarification. Manabozho had a look much similar to the blank one Winter Born got, though there was a glitter to his eyes that made her shiver. Ocryana still seemed surprised; when the ugliness began to return to her face and a hint of a growl came to her throat, he spoke. "There is only one party in that cave you need worry about. Nothing else. You take care of that, you get whatever it is you're promised. You do anything else, you get far worse than I'm sure she's promised you. You want him out of there and face to face, then all you had to do was ask." He turned away from her and faced where the cave had been. "A little assistance, please?" he said, glancing back toward Thomas; Thomas blinked, then braced himself and hurled another gust of freezing wind toward the spot. It exposed only the edge of the cave, showing that it had moved somewhat but not that far. Manabozho turned a little and stepped toward it, looking back at the others once more as he did so. "I'm not sure how well this will go, but I'm going to drag him out by whatever means possible...so prepare yourselves." Charmian nodded. Ocryana continued growling under her breath but offered no objections; judging by the antsy movements of her tail, Charmian hoped that this meant she was eager to get started, and they all watched as Manabozho held his hands out toward the cave as if to grab hold of it. "Try hitting it one more time," he called out to Thomas, "just so I can make sure where it is." "But--well, you're right in my way," Thomas protested. Manabozho shot him a disgusted look. "I'm part wind! You think you could hurt me? Please. I have more in my little toe than you have in those attacks." Charmian put a hand on Thomas's arm when he huffed. "The nerve!" "Now you see what I have to put up with all the time," she said from the corner of her mouth. "Just go on and do it. He can take it. We can beat him over the head later." "Yes, well, now I know he's got it coming," Thomas muttered. "I think I'll put a bit more into it than I would have otherwise!" Charmian pulled away and he jerked backwards from the force of the blast that shot from his hands; the wind struck Manabozho and the space around him, and in an instant the traveling cave was coated in ice like a gigantic snowball. Charmian marveled over the strange object; it looked like nothing more than a giant hunk of breccia similar to that on the Island, and she wondered why Megissogwun would have chosen such a material to represent his cave; it was about the size of her bedroom, and vaguely elliptical, so she could only assume it must be more spacious inside than out, like Sugar Loaf Rock. This made her think of Lieutenant Barrington for some reason; she glanced at him, and was surprised to see him writing or sketching something hurriedly on a piece of paper. What a weird time to do something like that. Manabozho had to shake himself off as he was now rimed with ice, tiny icicles even forming on his feathers and the fringes of his clothing; it made a tinkling sound as it scattered from him. He shot Thomas a dirty look before leaning forward and plunging his hands into the giant shape before him--they went right through it, and Charmian sucked in a breath when he turned blue--literally--and she remembered what had happened when he'd transformed earlier and merged with the stone around him. "Joining with the traveling cave," she said aloud as Thomas pulled back his attack. "Smart, but--" "What if that cave serves Megissogwun as the Stone Canoe serves Mishosha?" Moon Wolf put in. "Then, perhaps not so smart." "Just what I was thinking," Charmian said, biting her lip, as the ice evaporated and the entire cave lit up in brilliant blue. |