Hey again, sorry it's taken me a bit longer than usual to update, rinilashlaya offered an idea and I really liked it, but it took me a while to descide if I could make it work. rina, you're just going to have to read to see if I followed though with it. XD.
Anya dances about giddily, clapping her hands together, "We're finally getting out of the mine!!!"
Thanks, and enjoy.
Chapter 7
It's Only the Beginning
"Go!" Icefire commanded; his voice laced with panic.
Nearra, Davyn and Jirah sprinted towards their packs whilst I waited, cradling my limp hand. Rocks smashed into the ground around us as dust fell like rain.
Spinning on his heels, Icefire scanned the hill of carts. I could see his pointed ears twitch as they strained to hear over the ominous rumbling.
Suddenly, sheathing his sword, Icefire ran towards the pile of carts, his expression a mask of determination. He veered around the toppled carts and jumped over pile after pile of rubble. He, by some miracle, reached the top of the pile in one piece.
I saw another beam against the wall splinter and give way.
"Keene!" Icefire called, his eyes darting about frantically.
Clutching at the rusted cart edges, Icefire hauled himself up. From somewhere behind me I heard Davyn yelling for me to hurry up. I turned to face the young ranger and heard Jirah yelp as she tripped over. Nearra stopped, backtracking to help her sister stand once more.
"Keene!" Icefire bellowed.
The torchlight shuddered as the rumbling grew louder.
I could just make out the small wheeze from Keene, thankfully, as had Icefire.
Wren feathers that had torn free from Keene's topknot lay haphazardly around his small, fallen form.
"I'm here," I heard Icefire say, stumbling very uncharacteristically towards the kender.
I saw him gripping his small friends shoulder and heft the little kender up, turning towards the tracks where we waited. At the sight of the approaching elf Davyn nudged Jirah up the track. The frightened girl scrambling up as quickly as her feet would carry her, her sister racing up behind her.
The tracks near the bottom swayed as I made my way up them, only a few feet behind Nearra. Kirilin lay unmoving where she'd landed, though I knew she wasn't dead.
Stopping with a small skid across the mossy floor, I pulled my leg back and landed a rough kick to the cleric's side, hearing a satisfying crack as her ribs gave way.Grinning, I continued in my mad dash after the two girls.
Davyn was right behind me, almost stepping on my ankles and tail as he continued his race to safety.
I heard a high pitched whine over the chaos of everything about me, trying to identify the source of the noise proved fruitless when it cut off; deathly abrupt.
I'd only managed a few extra feet when I gulped back a gasp at the sight of dust and compacted gravel from a fallen draconian. The draconian whom had devoured Pip only moments earlier.
That whining must have been Pip.
Maybe, just maybe, he's still alive.
My sudden lapse must have shown as I felt Davyn shoving roughly at my back, ushering me forward.
"Anya," he yelled frantically over the falling rubble. "You have to keep moveing!"
Another timber gave out, and in a flurry of dust and wood chips the track started to collapse.
I skidded to a stop, ignoring Davyn as he made a desperate grab at my arm and tried to pull me along. His hand fell away and I was vaguely aware of him continuing his mad dash after the two girls.
There, amidst the draconian's remains, was a tuft of fur, it was a small ball, barely bigger than my hand. The white fur was tainted grey and the hair blew about each time the platform quaked beneath me.
I was jolted back to the awareness of my impending doom as I heard the tracks behind me groan, giving way and falling to the cavern floor.
I reached forward with my left arm, hissing in pain as my right hand protested to the lack of support. I scooped the tiny creature into my arm, holding it protected between my chest and bent elbow. Pip didn't utter a noise, he didn't move. Maybe I'd been wrong in thinking there was a slight chance that he was still alive.
I looked up to faces of my companions, all waiting for me.
At some point Icefire had managed to pass me by and join up with the rest of them. Keene gripped tightly to him. His overall demeanor hinted towards worry, and he was obviously displeased that I'd delayed them, but I think I saw a look of understanding and approval amidst it all.
More timber cracked and fell, the noise was deafeningly terrifying.
This is why I hate being underground. When you're on the surface having the sky cave in on you isn't really a big risk.
Not waiting a second more, I bounded up a few remaining timber tracks. Leaping for all I was worth when the last few gave out right beneath me.
I dashed the rest of the way across the platform to join on with the others.
Blood was smeared on the wall behind me and I grinned, knowing that we'd come out of that fight in better shape than the cleric had.
Nobody uttered a word at the sight of the small bundle in my arms. The moment of reverence was cut short when the platform we stood atop started to sway. It was leaning away from the cavern wall and rocking dangerously.
We bounded up the tracks. Mud and mold flung from our feet as we scrambled up the wooden beams.
Ahead, I could see the hazy gray light of the afternoon sun. My lungs were blazing with pain, my muscles screaming from the strain and my hand's tingling numbness was more painful than actually feeling something.
I felt a little renewed hope as I felt a small twitch from Pip. I gripped him protectively to my chest and forced myself forward. It was just a little further.
Once the first few platforms had collapsed the rest were quick to follow, not having anything to actually hold them up.
But, like all great adventurers, we'd found our way to safety in just the nick of time without a moment to spare.
We all climbed out of the hole, one by one, gripping at the stone and hauling ourselves up. Each one of us was gulping in great breaths of fresh air. Adrenaline gave me all the strength I needed, my heart pounding rapidly drowned out the sound of the ancient tracks finally collapsed below. The thunderous sound of crashes enveloped us as clouds of dust mushroomed up from the small opening.
All in a daze, we collapsed on the cold, stony floor. For a long moment we just lay there, gasping for air. The rumbling faded away like thunder, and I watched as the wind carried the cloud of dust into the evening sky.
Beside Icefire, Keene coughed.
Nearra sat up, rubbing dust from her watery eyes. The key-shaped gem swayed at her throat, "Is everyone alright?"
Icefire murmured something that sound like an 'I think I might be,' and Davyn grunted.
Looking away from those around me, my eyes trailed to that of the small bundle that I grasped tightly.
From Pip, there was no sound or movement. With a deep frown I loosened my grip on him, bringing my face closer to the small creature.
He'd still been alive down there, of that I was sure. Okay, I think there was a slight chance he might have been. Well, maybe.
The small fluff ball's hair moved slowly and rhythmically as the cool winds of the Plains of Dust breezed about us.
Come on Pip. Please be alright. Please.
Keene sat upright slowly, his eyes searching frantically about him before resting on me and that of the still dog.
"Pip," Keene gulped, his chest shuddered with sobs, and his lip quivered.
Sadness over came me then. Joy had been torn from Keene's face, and the sight of it filled me with despair. Kenders shouldn't be like this. It wasn't right.
Keene's eyes shifted, meeting Icefire's own.
"You said you'd come back for us," he whispered in bitter accusation.
"We were going to," Icefire said. "Keene, you must understand, we had to hurry."
"The prison didn't hold Kirilin," Keene sobbed, spitting out the cleric's name in loathe. "She and her draconians killed people, she broke down the door of my cell, and they took me and Pip. I thought it was you coming for me, but it wasn't," He looked away from the elf back to me, his eyes softening at the sight of his fallen comrade. "Pip was so scared. I'd never seen him shake so much."
"We were going to come back," Icefire repeated quietly in despair, the kender barely acknowledging the elf.
Icefire reached forward and gripped Keene's shoulder only for the kender wretched it away.
The kender's eyes were dark, his voice void of anything but anger. "It's your fault. Pip would be alive if it weren't for you, I know it."
"H-he might still be," I spoke up, motioning towards the small dog that I held in my arms.
I noticed then that my arms were trembling, but out of fear for a dog that I barely knew, or the injury I'd acquired, I didn't know.
When I next looked up, Keene hovered above my right shoulder, his eyes gleaming with something. Was it hope? Anxiety? Anger? It was hard to pinpoint one emotion from the other on the broken kender's face. Dust stuck to his tear stained cheeks and his eyes found that of mine.
I shook my head, not knowing what to say.
I should just wrap my hands around the dog and see if I could find a pulse, not torture the kender with false hope. But then, sometimes hope was all we really have. I couldn't hear a beat. Usually I could pick up a pulse or a heartbeat with my demonic heritage. There either wasn't one to hear, or it was so faint that chances of saving Pip were slim to none.
Keene knelt at my side, reaching out hesitantly to touch the dog before pausing. After a moment, he drew his hand back.
"Pip?" Keene's voice was strangled and hoarse.
Nothing.
"Please," tears rimmed the kender's eyes, threatening to spill over once more. "Please, Pip, don't mess around. It's not funny."
His cheeks were red in comparison to his sickly pale face. He looked so tired.
Keene sniffed, his eyes shedding tears as he trembled.
"Pip, wake up, please wake up," at the sound of the kender's pleading voice I felt my chest involuntarily tighten.
Bowing his head, Keene's knelt silently by my side, tears were dripping off his nose and falling silently to the ground.
I adjusted the barely noticeable weight that was Pip and turned him slowly in my arms. His whole form was limp. He looked so weak and defenseless.
Pip's usually long shaggy curls were clumped together with stale blood and an unidentified slimy substance, his usually curled tail hung limply in my hold.
Knowing that prolonging this any longer wouldn't change anything, I placed my left hand to the dog's side.
There was nothing. Not the slightest movement hinting that the innocent little creature was still breathing.
I held my hand at the dog's side a moment longer, silently willing Pip to jump up and lick at Keene's tears, assuring the little kender that he was alright.
But it didn't happen. Pip lay in my grasp, unmoving.
Keene's voice broke into a tiny whisper, "Pip."
Wait.
Was that…?
My eyes lightened slightly as one of the small dog's floppy ears twitched at the sound of his master's voice. His droopy eyelids remained closed, but there was movement, and from my experience dead things didn't usually move.
"Keene," I whispered in awe as Pip's paw moved slightly in my grasp.
It wasn't much, but from the rise of Keene's shoulder's and the light that appeared in his eyes, I know that it meant the world to him.
I saw Jirah raise her hand to her chest, seemingly letting out a breath of air she'd been previously holding. Her face was red and splotchy and her eyes were rimmed with tears. Nearra had a small smile tugging at her lips, and she too held back unshed tears. Icefire seemed to light up in hope at my quiet yet exited voice. The elf's eyes weren't on that of the small dog in my grasp, but on that of the kender. Davyn's expression was unreadable, but his dark brown eyes were soft as he gazed at the bundle in my hands.
"Pip," Keene beamed, sniffing uncontrollably, a smile finding its way to his face. "You scared me half to death. That was very selfish of you. Did you stop to think what playing dead for that long would do to me? Well, did you?"
I knew that I needn't tell the kender to be careful of the injured creature as I slowly passed Pip to him. I heard the white creature whimper quietly as he was moved. His eye's slowly opened for a few moments before falling closed again. It did nothing to dishearten the grin that took over Keene's face.
I fell back, sitting once more, holding my injured hand in my arm as I gave a small smile at the sight of the little kender and his equally small dog.
I breathed out a deep sigh and watched as Keene rubbed gently and affectionately at Pip's exposed stomach. Icefire, Jirah and Nearra crowded around Keene. Nearra and Jirah watched the little dog silently, and Icefire briefly took Pip from Keene's hands to take a look at his wounds before replacing him in Keene's outstretched arms.
Well, the atmosphere just got a little less gloomy.
Thank the gods it did because I wouldn't have been able to think of a joke for the life of me.
Waiting a few moments for my companions to calm somewhat the pain in my hand became a lot more apparent now that there wasn't anything else on my mind.
I gave a small cough to clear my throat before speaking, "I don't mean to complain, but I think my fingers might be a bit dislocated," I said, holding my hand up for further inspection.
At the sight of my four mangled fingers, I winced. They all pointed in different directions and moved slightly in the cool breeze. The knuckles were red and starting to swell and my palm was discolored and blemished. Yep, they're definitely dislocated.
"If they stay like that for much longer you're never going to be able to use them again," Davyn pointed out as he looked away from Keene and the weak dog; there was a slight hint of pity in his voice as he said this.
I smirked, despite the pain that was starting to come to me in waves now that we weren't running for our lives and the rush of adrenaline was well and truly gone.
"Well then, kid, why don't you snap 'em back in for me?" I asked.
Davyn frowned, his leg's trembling with strain, and he got to his feet and raised an eyebrow, looking down at me.
He frowned, not sure if I was joking or serious, "Are you sure?" he asked.
I'm sure I looked on the border of being amused and worried.
I shrugged, "I doubt Jirah or Nearra will get the job done quickly, the kender's becoming reacquainted with his little friend, and I don't really trust the elf to do it," I smiled a lopsided grin at Icefire, "Nothing personal."
The elf looked over at me and simply frowned, rubbing a trail of sweat from his forehead, his black hair sticking to his cheeks in a tangled mess.
"Well then, what makes you think I can be trusted?" Davyn asked as he approached me.
Okay, now I know for sure that he's trying to psyche me out on purpose.
"Because, if you stuff up my hand, I'll stuff up your face," I answered very straight forwardly, "And we wouldn't want to muck up that ridiculously handsome face of yours, now, would we?"
I smirked at the reaction my flamboyant flirt had received from Davyn, stifling a chuckle at his shocked look. He quickly covered it up and raised an eyebrow. I think I just heard Nearra giggle from where she was sprawled out on the rocky surface beside the kender.
"I think you just lost yourself a finger," Davyn retorted jokingly with a hearty grin.
"Well I'll be darned, his face didn't crack," I said to myself at the sight of his smile.
He ignored me and crouched down, right in front of me, I was sitting with my legs crossed. I could see Nearra's interested eyes on my hand. She stood and made her way over to Davyn and me, therefore leaving the kender and his dog with Jirah and Icefire.
The ranger was delicately examining my throbbing hand in both of his own.
Sure, my hand was almost completely numb, but the slight tingling made it feel as if it were on fire.
With a concerned look on her face, Nearra knelt down next to me, a dagger sheath in her hands. She held it out to me with a small, sympathetic smile.
Uhh, thanks? It's just what I always wanted.
"Use this to bite on," Nearra said after I gave her a slightly confused look.
Ah, that makes sense.
"Yeah, you wouldn't want to bite off your sharp tongue there," Davyn muttered sarcastically under his breath.
A frown creased his tan face and I felt breath from his nose tickling my fingers, chasing away the numbness.
With my good hand I stuffed the sheath into my mouth, feeling rather stupid and half expecting Davyn to mock me.
Surprisingly, he didn't.
"You ready?" he asked from under his dark brown eyebrows.
I simply nodded my head as Davyn's eyes shot back to my hand. I felt Nearra clutch at my other one and I frowned in surprise. She gave my hand a tight squeeze and continued to hold on. I bit down on the sheath in anticipation.
Then, the pain started, it was worse than the actual pain of it coming out of the joints. Thankfully, it was quick. I squeezed back at Nearra's hand and clenched my eyes and jaw shut tight.
One down, three to go.
I felt Davyn work onto the next one, snapping it back into place quickly and gently.
There are only two more, half way through now.
The next one took two shots, having been out in two joints and I felt warm tears prickle at the corners of my tightly clenched eyes.
"Last one, Anya," Davyn reassured me quietly under his breath.
With one hand he held my palm, holding it up as he pulled the fingers in the sockets with his other hand. The last one went in quickly and suddenly as I let out a quiet whimper.
Oh darn, please don't let anyone have heard that. It'll wreak my bad-arse reputation.
Slowly I opened my eyes, rocking back slightly. My hand was no longer completely numb. Now it only throbbed with a dull pain.
"You're lucky they weren't too swollen," Davyn said slowly as Nearra placed an arm at my back to steady my swaying. "If you'd left it any longer you'd have to wait for the swelling to go down, and by then it would have been too late."
I spat the sheath from my mouth onto my lap.
"Congratulations, kid, you do have a use," I said queasily. "If I ever dislocate my fingers again, I'll be sure to seek you out."
He let go of my hand, the loss of warmth sending it into a further jolt of pain. Though, thankfully, it was starting to lessen considerably now that my hand was aligned properly. I started to clench and unclench my fist as I passed the sheath back to Nearra.
"Thanks," I said with a weak smile.
My head hurts.
"Thank you," she said, standing and giving me her hand.
I looked at it as if it with a frown before realizing what the gesture meant. I placed my own hand in hers and pulled myself up.
"We can't stay here any longer," Davyn's voice rose over whatever Nearra was about to say next, "The bandits will be―"
Oh please, would you just shut up for once, Davyn?
Jirah shook her head her eye's not leaving that of Keene. "I can't," she said. "I need to rest. We all do."
"Nearra," Icefire said. "What do you want to do?"
She shook her head from beside me as I pulled my good hand away, still clenching my previously dislocated one. I stood up, along with her.
I crossed the index and middle finger on my left hand in hope. Oh boy, I hope she decides to stay here and rest.
"Rest, we have to. We won't be able to travel in this condition. Pip, the battle, the magic, it was all too much," she said quietly.
Yes! If I weren't so tired I'd probably be dancing in victory right about now. We're actually allowed to rest.
"But Ark," Davyn protested with a deep frown.
And we're back to the usual ranger. I thought I was beginning to see another side of him. Was that what he used to be like? Before all of this happened? Before the death, the curses, the cocky arrogant Icefire? I don't really like this closed-up, argumentative ranger. Besides, he has a pretty nice smile.
I smirked at my trail of thought before listening in on the others once more.
Nearra shook her head. "If he comes back, he comes back. We'll fight him then. We'll be more ready to do so if we're not completely exhausted."
Letting his pack fall heavily to the ground, Davyn turned to scan our surroundings. The black dot that was the ancient boulder sat at the horizon. Far to south were the distant hills and cliffs. Wind flowed past us, freezing the sweat that poured down my face. There were no signs of life at all, let alone Ark and his bandits.
"They'll be back," Davyn grunted.
"And when they are we'll kick their butt," I pointed out with a nod of my head.
Icefire got to his knees and scooted nearer to Keene. I dropped down next to the rest of them. Davyn sat between Jirah and me, Jirah sitting right at Keene's side. Nearra was near both Icefire and Keene.
"Jirah," Icefire started, "You went into the tomb? You got the weapon?"
Jirah didn't look from Keene's face; she stroked his damp hair and sighed at the look of pure joy upon his face.
The kender still hadn't gotten his head wrapped around the fact that the little dog was still alive. The actual extent of Pip's injures hadn't really reached Keene's brain yet.
There was a small pause, "Jirah?" Icefire repeated.
Shaken from her thoughts, Jirah turned and nodded.
"Yes," she said; her voice low. "The wizard, she gave me the weapon for helping Nearra free her."
Icefire reached for the longbow. Its carvings were intricate, its design sleek and deadly. The arrows strapped to Jirah's back glowed with blue light. Though she'd fired one shot, the quiver seemed full.
Icefire's fingers neared the bow; a distant look of lust clear on his face. I noticed Davyn giving him a hard look and he stopped reaching for it. Icefire's hands were shaking uncontrollably.
"I'll have to take a look at it later," he said quickly with an uncomfortable cough, "Magnificent design."
Nearra offered him a weak smile, "We did it, everyone," she said. "We got past Kirilin again. Thank you so much, all of you."
She created eye contact with each of us, one by one, myself included. No one said anything and, after a moment, Nearra's eye's fell to what had taken all of our attention; Keene and Pip.
For a long while, no one spoke. We huddled beneath our cloaks as night fell.
Icefire, Nearra and Jirah clung to each other for warmth. I sat back, as did Davyn, and Keene sat isolated from us all, whispering to his sleeping friend as he petted the dirty creature. We didn't dare light a fire, for doing so would lead enemies directly to us.
I'd been with them for a few days and I already had a new list of enemies.
"Is it just me, or do you guys just keep on accumulating more and more new enemies?" I voiced my though.
In reply I heard Davyn give a huff, a small smile forming on his dry lips. I frowned at the sight; there was no humor behind his smile.
I sighed, shacking my head, "I'll take that as a yes."
Thanks again rinalashlaya for the idea on how to keep Pip alive. Hey, he might not be in very good condition, but he is alive.
Please review and let me know what you thought of that chapter, I always apprieciate a review just letting me know if you enjoyed it or ways that I could improve my writing.
Okay, thanks again,
just-passing-time
