A/N: Thanks to everyone reading this either for the first time or just love the story so have picked it up for another read. It is a long story and the chapters continue to get bigger. Hope you are all enjoying it. There is a lot of romance, action and drama so stay tuned. Come join me in the world where anything is possible. :) Cheers.
Dee
Chapter 8
Danny was anxiously searching for options as she clung to The Ancient plummeting through the darkness when she noticed a light shining from below them. As they approached what looked like a tunnel, Danny readied herself for her one shot at survival and launched herself from the Demon toward the opening. With little more than soft sand to perilously claw, the velocity of impact proved to more than her grip could counter and she bounced off the ledge. Frantically she groped through the darkness before managing to latch onto a cargo net that was suspended from the ledge to another tunnel below. The net swung wildly under her weight slamming her into the jagged rocks and she immediately felt intense pain tear through her shoulder.
Grimacing she was just catching her breath when she heard Kenzi screaming above her and getting closer. "Ah shit," whispered Danny realizing her friend was in trouble.
A low rumble slipped from her throat, her fangs broke the surface and her vision became more acute as she embraced her inner wolf. While hanging on the netting her canine eyes glowed searching the darkness for Kenzi who she could now see was heading right toward her.
Danny shouted. "Kenzi I'm here, grab my hand. I'm here Kenz!" she kept calling. And suddenly she was there. Danny desperately reached out at the last minute catching Kenzi around the waist. The impact swung them both into the wall again. Danny grunted as she tried to focus on keeping them both alive, her wolf providing the strength she needed.
"Kenz, grab the net," she begged.
"I can't," cried Kenzi hysterically tightening her arms around Danny who was struggling to maintain her grip.
"Kenzi, do it now or I swear I'll drop you," gasped Danny through gritted teeth. "I can't hold us."
Kenzi whimpered and timidly reached for the netting.
"Get up on the ledge," directed Danny wincing under the strain her injured shoulder was forced to support.
Kenzi slowly made her way higher and scrambled onto the ledge. Rocks were now falling into the black abyss and one bounced off Danny's back as she clung close to the wall. She let out a yelp and started to make her way onto the ledge. Gaining the ledge, she collapsed rolling onto her back with her chest heaving.
Kenzi leaned up on her elbow, slapped her hand on Danny's chest and gasped, "I owe you a beer," and then collapsed back down on the dirt.
"Are you okay?" Danny asked as she lay panting, her eyes returning to their soft auburn color and her fangs recessing.
"I'm good," choked Kenzi in between labored breaths.
"We should go. I think the place is collapsing," suggested Danny without much conviction.
"Yup," said Kenzi not moving. Continuing to reflect on what just happened adding, "That was some messed up. The Fae and their crazy ass shit."
"Yeah," breathed Danny too exhausted to bother with more.
"And, you're the chosen one?" asked Kenzi.
"I guess," said Danny reluctantly. "It's not a big deal though, right?"
"Ha yeah," snorted the Goth woman pulling on Danny's arm, unsure what it meant, but knew everything in the Fae world was a big deal. "Okay dog let's go home."
Danny moaned as every part of her body screamed. Kenzi put her shoulder under Danny's arm and helped her limp down the tunnel.
"Which way?" asked Kenzi scanning the crossroad. Danny lifted her face and inhaled the air breathing in deeply.
"This way. I smell water," confirmed Danny flatly.
"For real?" asked Kenzi raising her eyebrows.
Danny smiled and shrugged before wincing in pain as she tweaked her injured shoulder.
"Serves you right smart ass," teased Kenzi.
They could hear rocks crashing behind them and knew they needed to pick up the pace. The tunnel led out on to a ledge over looking a waterfall that pooled into a cenote below. A large bolder crashed behind them. Danny looked at Kenzi, "we have to jump."
Kenzi started to back up from the ledge, "I'm really not a water person." Danny grabbed Kenzi's wrist, and pulled her off the ledge.
Danny popped up in the cold water shaking the water from her face. Frantically she scanned the water around her. "Kenzi," she shouted. "Kenz!" Danny dove back under the crystal blue water searching for the Goth woman. Finally she spotted her, swam quickly to her, pulled her to the surface, and dragged her to the shore.
"Wake up Kenz!" begged Danny slapping her face gently. She opened her mouth and gave her a couple breaths before the dark featured woman started coughing.
Kenzi sat up still coughing and spitting up water. "Nice idea. Uggg dog breath, if you wanted to kiss a totally kick ass chick such as myself, you could just ask," she breathed giving Danny a friendly push. Danny flopped back on the sand grabbing her shoulder. Her adrenaline from her furious search had worn off and the pain was now gripping her body.
Kenzi collapsed beside Danny, "Now what?"
"Now we rest. Its past midday we need to stay put," continued Danny enjoying the warmth of the sun and a moment to finally catch her breath.
"Can I ask you something?" asked Kenzi hesitantly.
"Sure," replied Danny curious as to what could be on her mind.
"That thing you did back there with the sword in the cavern, when you dropped it... how'd you do that?" asked Kenzi raising herself onto her elbow so she could look at Danny.
A shadow crossed Danny's face, not fully understanding herself what had happened and replied quietly, "I don't know. I just wanted that sword more than anything in the world at that moment and the next thing I knew, it was in my hand."
Kenzi put her hand on Danny's arm reassuringly, sensing Danny's uneasiness.
"Do you think the others are okay?" breathed Kenzi finally having the time to consider what happened.
"I have to believe they are. I just can't deal with that right now," replied Danny.
Exhausted, they both lay in silence pushing the thoughts of the last couple days out of their minds until sleep overwhelmed them.
When Danny woke from her nap, the sun was low in the sky and close to setting. She dragged herself to a sitting position, every part of her body screaming and looked over at Kenzi who was just starting to stir.
Kenzi put her head in her hands moaning, "This is like the worse hang over I have ever had."
Danny smiled. It was nice to have company and despite the dire situation they were in, she felt freer than she had ever been in her life. She closed her eyes breathing deeply, inhaling the fresh, moist air, her thoughts drifting to Bo and Dyson for a moment hoping they were okay. Wincing, she dragged herself to her feet clenching her jaw, trying not to reveal how badly she was hurt. Her knee was a mess, her shoulder likely separated, possibly a couple bruised ribs, a bad gash on her shoulder and cheek, as well as cuts and bruises all over her body.
She limped over to the water and took several sips before cupping her hands to splash water on her face. Danny stood waist deep in the crystal blue water letting the water sooth her injuries and refresh her soul as she stared at the night sky. Kenzi dropped to her knees near the water's edge and gulped the cool water satisfying her parched throat and easing her hunger. She pulled her cell phone out of her pocket excited for a fleeting moment until she noticed the water dripping out of the casing.
"Crap," grunted Kenzi tossing her phone into the cenote.
Danny smirked thinking that would just be too easy.
"I'm hungry," whined Kenzi.
"Me too," agreed Danny looking sympathetically at Kenzi. "There might be fruit around but it'll be dark soon so don't wander off too far. We should sleep under these bushes and pull in some other branches for shelter."
"I'll take a quick look for food, and bring back what branches I can," replied Kenzi. Danny nodded.
When Kenzi got back it was almost dark but she could see Danny had made them a place to sleep for the night that almost looked cozy. She sat down next to Danny sharing the berries she had found.
"We should get some rest, tomorrow we'll try to get out of here," suggested Danny lying down next to the dark featured woman.
"I'm freezing," admitted Kenzi shivering and moving closer to Danny. Danny dragged herself to her feet as Kenzi sighed deeply. "Where are you going?"
"I'll be right back, don't worry," replied Danny.
Kenzi rolled over about to ask Danny what she was doing when she found herself nose to nose with a medium size wolf. She jumped at first but the auburn eyes were unmistakable, and she relaxed. "Geez dog, a little notice would be nice."
Danny, pushed her muzzle under Kenzi's arm and curled up next to her as close as she could. The Goth woman wrapped her arm around the big dog and immediately felt the warmth surround her. Kenzi smiled squeezing Danny and whispered, "Thanks dog." Danny let out a soft content sigh and drifted off to sleep.
Hours later Kenzi sat up rubbing her eyes still sleepy, the sun having barely crested the horizon, when Danny trotted up to her and dropped a small rodent at her feet, her mouth open in a doggie smile.
"Gross what am I supposed to do with this?" asked Kenzi as Danny's tail wagged with amusement. Danny moved forward pushed the rodent with her nose closer and stepped back, tail still wagging.
"Thank you, but you should have it, I am full from the berries last night," Kenzi joked. The wolf picked up the rodent and disappeared in the jungle.
When Danny came back she was back in human form, limping toward the young woman. "We should get going."
"Which way?" asked Kenzi.
"Well Cancun is south of here and the sun set behind us last night so we need to go this way," said Danny pointing south.
"What are you, a girl scout or something," teased Kenzi shaking her head, continuously amazed by the wolf's capabilities.
Danny laughed for the first time in a week and soon Kenzi joined her sharing a moment of much needed stress relief.
"Kenz, don't take this wrong, but I'm glad you are here with me," said Danny smiling, her eyes filled with affection for the Goth woman.
"Ah, geez you're going to make me blush," replied Kenzi with a big smile.
"Ya, ya, I'm going to change because it is easier for me to walk with my injuries in wolf form. Can you bring my clothes?" asked Danny.
Kenzi nodded. "Lead on." Danny took her clothes off and folded them up. "Do none of you Fae have any modesty?" complained Kenzi taking the clothes.
Danny grinned, slipping behind the bushes, and changing into her wolf form before coming back out into the clearing. She stopped and looked back waiting.
"Okay, okay, I'm coming. Just a walk in the park with my dog," muttered Kenzi following the wolf.
The two women had been walking for a couple days and they were both exhausted and hungry. Things were looking grim and Danny was worried about Kenzi and her deteriorating strength, she wouldn't be able to go much longer without food.
Danny raised her nose in the breeze and caught human scents. Her heart skipped a beat, they were close and she felt a pang of homesickness. She ran ahead changed and waited for the human to catch up with her clothes.
Kenzi rolled her eyes as she wandered up to Danny who was naked, again, "Seriously?"
Danny smiled, ignoring her, and pulled on her cloths. "We're close to humans. I'm not sure where we are but hopefully we can find our way to the military base," whispered Danny. They crept out to the edge of the jungle and were greeted by six military guys pointing guns at them.
"Safe to say we have found the base," quipped Kenzi stepping in front of Danny. "Hola Amigos, we need to see Colonel Connoly please? Tell him we're friends of Dyson," she said pouring on the charm. The military guys looked at each other and then one of them speaking Spanish radioed in.
"Please, come with us, we'll take you to the Colonel," replied one of the men, assisting Danny and Kenzi into the jeep.
At the base they met an unusually tall and slim Mexican man, who Kenzi recognized from their first meeting.
He greeted them with a smile and a hug, "You're alive, Miss Kenzi!" Kenzi smiled, hugging the Colonel back. "Bo and Dyson went home several days ago and said everyone else had been killed," continued Connoly. "Come, come I am sure you girls need food, some fresh cloths, shower, and by the looks of things, glancing at Danny, medical attention."
Danny smiled biting her bottom lip letting the news sink in, "they are alive," she repeated.
"Sir, thank you, but we really just want to go home as soon as possible," said Kenzi her eyes apologizing incase she offended him.
"Of course," replied Connoly, there's a cargo flight on the tarmac but, you would need to go now."
"Yes Sir, if we can catch that one, it would be greatly appreciated!" said Kenzi, her voice filled with renewed energy. "I may have been too hasty declining food, maybe a bagged lunch for the road?"
"Of course Miss Kenzi," smiled the man.
On the cargo plane, Kenzi reached over, kissing Danny on the cheek.
"What was that for?" asked Danny.
"For bringing me home," she said quietly.
Danny smiled at the human who managed to weasel into the hearts of everyone who had the chance to know her. She was ferociously loyal, brazen beyond her means and she would do anything for the people she loved. "We'll be there in a couple hours, get some rest," replied Danny reflecting on the friend lying next to her.
