Chapter Two
Saatari woke with a sudden start she looked around the room fear flashing across her face, someone grabbed hold of her hand and she turned hurriedly to see Linai, she breathed an obvious sigh of relief "Where are we brother?" He smiled faintly "Meni's village" he knew the next question and his face grew grave as Saatari's concern grew. "Where is he?" "I don't know Jabis has his best men looking for him".
She stood up and walked to the opening of the tent "I will find him" her brother nodded "I will not stop you, this is what I expected". He followed her out of the tent "And I will go with you we will have twenty of Jabis' men to help us". Saatari didn't respond.
~* * *~
"What are we going to do?" Marguerite voiced everyone's thoughts "We can't stop a war and we have no reason to help these people we're just going to get ourselves killed!" Roxton watched as she spoke and he couldn't be sure but he could've swore he saw a flicker of panic cross her face, he put his arm around he waist and pulled her into a hug "No one is going to die Marguerite". She faced him uncertain "Promise me" "I promise no one will die…You will live to gaze at me another day" She pulled away from him. "I was not gazing at you" An arrow hit the balcony then bounced back off the wood to fall to the ground far below.
They heard someone shout then the sound of somebody screech then a roar went through the crowd below, metal clashing, arrows hitting it's mark, the massacre had begun".
"Veronica get back up here!" Malone shouted a warning as the enemy tried to climb over the electric fence and spears hit the tree "It's safer up here" Veronica grabbed Meni by the arm and dragged him towards the elevator as he fought to join in the fight.
Roxton began walking towards the elevator "We have no right to keep him up here, his people are down there and they need his help" Malone despite wanting Veronica to stay out of harms way went to join Roxton "Brothers in Arms". They waited for Challanger and Marguerite to make a decision and seconds later Challanger joined them and they waited for Marguerite, she rolled her eyes "Fine! I'll help if only to keep you three out of trouble".
~* * *~
Saatari stumbled through the thick undergrowth trying to match Linai's pace to her was like trying to outrun a Cheetah. He paused to let her catch up to him he patted her shoulder reassuringly and she found renewed strength.
~* * *~
The explorers stood side by side in front of Jabis' tribe though fewer men were fighting the were brave and had spirit, they were fighting for a cause not for the bloodlust they wanted the fighting to end and if they lost their lives in the process they didn't care. They would still be remembered among their people they'd be known not as the people who lost but as the heroes who tried.
The explorers were proud to be fighting alongside them and they knew they would win.
Jugar pushed his way towards the electric fence no emotion showing on his hardened features, he looked through the trees at the opposition, at the explorers, at Marguerite "killer!" Anger the only feeling he showed, he threw his spear wildly not hitting anything, missing its mark by a mile.
A deep commanding voice spoke up above the din "Enough!" Warriors on either side stopped and Quiru marched forward until he stood in between both tribes "I will fight Meni, I win and Jabis' pitiful tribe is mine to do with as I please" Meni came forward "And if I win?" Quiru stood proud "If you win and I'll be dead what you do will be up to you…Don't worry though I will win anyway".
Both sides stood back to allow space to fight Jugar came forward "Choose your weapon" two men on Quiru's side held out two spears and two broad swords, they chose the swords "Good choice Meni pity it won't help you".
Saatari and Linai came into view and she ran in front of her father "So you decided to come back" Quiru's eyes glazed over at the sight of the 'traitor'"
He pushed her roughly out of the way, and Meni went to help her, Jugar blocked his way and pushed him back with a spear. "You fight, now".
Quiru and Meni watched each other closely, circling each other taking in the others weaknesses and strengths deciding what would be their downfall. Quiru sprung forward thrusting the blade towards Meni's stomach as he lunged his little finger on his right hand twitched, a sigh that Meni noted for future reference, Meni parried as Quiru swung the blade then ducked as Quiru came back the flat of the sword hitting his shoulder blade.
The crowd cheered and moved in closer to get a better look, the fighting space growing smaller making it harder to move. Quiru's small finger flicked out and Meni anticipating the leaders next move, spun to the left, bringing his sword up he waited until Quiru looked him in the eye then he brought it down, the shining blade piercing the skin. Quiru's scream echoed throughout the jungle, he looked up in disbelief the he slumped forward his head on his chest. The tribes grew silent neither moving they watched and waited. Meni ran forward and hugged Saatari "You free!" Tears of joy flowed down her cheeks Linai faced his tribe and he threw down his weapon "This war is over, we don't need to kill each other we need to respect each other we need to bring peace to our two tribes" Meni stood beside him "We are brothers not bound by blood but by friendship".
Both tribes began looking up at each other, nodding in silent agreement. Jugar watched these pitiful events, sick at the stomach. He yelled the name of his chief then ran forward, sword in hand, everything seemed to happen in slow motion, a dagger spun through the air as Jugar ran towards the explorers, Roxton pushed Marguerite out of the way as the dagger flew past, Jugar brought the sword down towards her shouting his brothers name. Roxton kicked him back and grabbed the dagger from the floor, Jugar leapt up from the ground slicing the air with the sword as Roxton pushed the dagger into the man's chest. Roxton fell back, his eyes wide. Another warrior stood a bloody spear in his hand. He moved in for the kill as bullets plummeted into him and a dagger embedded itself in his neck.
Marguerite ran forward, crouching over him, his head in her lap, she put her hands towards the gash in his side to try and stop the bleeding "You promised me John" he took her hands in his "I'll be fine just a…a little cold". She heard Challanger telling her to help him get Roxton to the elevator but she couldn't move, she put her hand to his chest feeling the rhythmic beat of his heart…Nothing!
"he's not breathing Challanger" She felt Veronica pull her back as Malone and Challanger carried him towards the elevator. Despite the amount of people around the treehouse, the area was eerily quiet.
~* * *~
Marguerite kept a silent vigil by Roxton's side, sitting so still people would mistake her for a statue an icy tear permanently, ever flowing on her cheek. She remembered the last time she had watched him sleeping, he'd caught her, she'd denied it and now she wanted him to wake up and see her again. She stroked his cheek…It was warm! She was about to shout for Challanger but something stopped her, she needed to be sure "Roxton?" She heard a sound escape his lips and she leaned in closer trying to catch what he said.
"Body Heat".
At that she didn't argue.
The End
Saatari woke with a sudden start she looked around the room fear flashing across her face, someone grabbed hold of her hand and she turned hurriedly to see Linai, she breathed an obvious sigh of relief "Where are we brother?" He smiled faintly "Meni's village" he knew the next question and his face grew grave as Saatari's concern grew. "Where is he?" "I don't know Jabis has his best men looking for him".
She stood up and walked to the opening of the tent "I will find him" her brother nodded "I will not stop you, this is what I expected". He followed her out of the tent "And I will go with you we will have twenty of Jabis' men to help us". Saatari didn't respond.
~* * *~
"What are we going to do?" Marguerite voiced everyone's thoughts "We can't stop a war and we have no reason to help these people we're just going to get ourselves killed!" Roxton watched as she spoke and he couldn't be sure but he could've swore he saw a flicker of panic cross her face, he put his arm around he waist and pulled her into a hug "No one is going to die Marguerite". She faced him uncertain "Promise me" "I promise no one will die…You will live to gaze at me another day" She pulled away from him. "I was not gazing at you" An arrow hit the balcony then bounced back off the wood to fall to the ground far below.
They heard someone shout then the sound of somebody screech then a roar went through the crowd below, metal clashing, arrows hitting it's mark, the massacre had begun".
"Veronica get back up here!" Malone shouted a warning as the enemy tried to climb over the electric fence and spears hit the tree "It's safer up here" Veronica grabbed Meni by the arm and dragged him towards the elevator as he fought to join in the fight.
Roxton began walking towards the elevator "We have no right to keep him up here, his people are down there and they need his help" Malone despite wanting Veronica to stay out of harms way went to join Roxton "Brothers in Arms". They waited for Challanger and Marguerite to make a decision and seconds later Challanger joined them and they waited for Marguerite, she rolled her eyes "Fine! I'll help if only to keep you three out of trouble".
~* * *~
Saatari stumbled through the thick undergrowth trying to match Linai's pace to her was like trying to outrun a Cheetah. He paused to let her catch up to him he patted her shoulder reassuringly and she found renewed strength.
~* * *~
The explorers stood side by side in front of Jabis' tribe though fewer men were fighting the were brave and had spirit, they were fighting for a cause not for the bloodlust they wanted the fighting to end and if they lost their lives in the process they didn't care. They would still be remembered among their people they'd be known not as the people who lost but as the heroes who tried.
The explorers were proud to be fighting alongside them and they knew they would win.
Jugar pushed his way towards the electric fence no emotion showing on his hardened features, he looked through the trees at the opposition, at the explorers, at Marguerite "killer!" Anger the only feeling he showed, he threw his spear wildly not hitting anything, missing its mark by a mile.
A deep commanding voice spoke up above the din "Enough!" Warriors on either side stopped and Quiru marched forward until he stood in between both tribes "I will fight Meni, I win and Jabis' pitiful tribe is mine to do with as I please" Meni came forward "And if I win?" Quiru stood proud "If you win and I'll be dead what you do will be up to you…Don't worry though I will win anyway".
Both sides stood back to allow space to fight Jugar came forward "Choose your weapon" two men on Quiru's side held out two spears and two broad swords, they chose the swords "Good choice Meni pity it won't help you".
Saatari and Linai came into view and she ran in front of her father "So you decided to come back" Quiru's eyes glazed over at the sight of the 'traitor'"
He pushed her roughly out of the way, and Meni went to help her, Jugar blocked his way and pushed him back with a spear. "You fight, now".
Quiru and Meni watched each other closely, circling each other taking in the others weaknesses and strengths deciding what would be their downfall. Quiru sprung forward thrusting the blade towards Meni's stomach as he lunged his little finger on his right hand twitched, a sigh that Meni noted for future reference, Meni parried as Quiru swung the blade then ducked as Quiru came back the flat of the sword hitting his shoulder blade.
The crowd cheered and moved in closer to get a better look, the fighting space growing smaller making it harder to move. Quiru's small finger flicked out and Meni anticipating the leaders next move, spun to the left, bringing his sword up he waited until Quiru looked him in the eye then he brought it down, the shining blade piercing the skin. Quiru's scream echoed throughout the jungle, he looked up in disbelief the he slumped forward his head on his chest. The tribes grew silent neither moving they watched and waited. Meni ran forward and hugged Saatari "You free!" Tears of joy flowed down her cheeks Linai faced his tribe and he threw down his weapon "This war is over, we don't need to kill each other we need to respect each other we need to bring peace to our two tribes" Meni stood beside him "We are brothers not bound by blood but by friendship".
Both tribes began looking up at each other, nodding in silent agreement. Jugar watched these pitiful events, sick at the stomach. He yelled the name of his chief then ran forward, sword in hand, everything seemed to happen in slow motion, a dagger spun through the air as Jugar ran towards the explorers, Roxton pushed Marguerite out of the way as the dagger flew past, Jugar brought the sword down towards her shouting his brothers name. Roxton kicked him back and grabbed the dagger from the floor, Jugar leapt up from the ground slicing the air with the sword as Roxton pushed the dagger into the man's chest. Roxton fell back, his eyes wide. Another warrior stood a bloody spear in his hand. He moved in for the kill as bullets plummeted into him and a dagger embedded itself in his neck.
Marguerite ran forward, crouching over him, his head in her lap, she put her hands towards the gash in his side to try and stop the bleeding "You promised me John" he took her hands in his "I'll be fine just a…a little cold". She heard Challanger telling her to help him get Roxton to the elevator but she couldn't move, she put her hand to his chest feeling the rhythmic beat of his heart…Nothing!
"he's not breathing Challanger" She felt Veronica pull her back as Malone and Challanger carried him towards the elevator. Despite the amount of people around the treehouse, the area was eerily quiet.
~* * *~
Marguerite kept a silent vigil by Roxton's side, sitting so still people would mistake her for a statue an icy tear permanently, ever flowing on her cheek. She remembered the last time she had watched him sleeping, he'd caught her, she'd denied it and now she wanted him to wake up and see her again. She stroked his cheek…It was warm! She was about to shout for Challanger but something stopped her, she needed to be sure "Roxton?" She heard a sound escape his lips and she leaned in closer trying to catch what he said.
"Body Heat".
At that she didn't argue.
The End