Author's Note: I apologize for the late update (sort of evil grin), but soon after my last update I had to do some traveling and well….jet lag kind of kills writing motivation ya know? Anyway, enjoy!
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Chapter 9
The stench of acid burning into the surrounding rock was overwhelming, but No-Tongue wasn't bothered by that. What did bother him was the tingling feeling all over his body where the beast's acid contacted his body. Not because it hurt, it was more annoying then anything else, but it worried him that it may just eat through his tough carapace and kill him, or at least render him unable to defend himself any further. As quickly as it started though, the tingling filling stopped and wasn't followed by pain: he had survived the acid intact. Now even more confident he could win this, he grinned up at the Raknork, who looked simply dumbfounded.
Impossible… It muttered.
-My peoples blood is like your breath- No-Tongue said, still grinning. -Therefore I am immune to it. The most you did was give me a deep cleaning bath. Tell me…- He turned to show his profile. -Do I look squeaky clean?-
The Raknork gave a roar of rage fired another round of acid at him. This one was in a more concentrated stream and the force of the impact knocked the Xeno over. No-Tongue felt the tingling again, but this time in places the first acid attack hadn't reached. Beyond that the acid attack no longer affected him at all. -Whatsa matter? Couldn't believe it the first time?- He taunted as he righted himself. -Don't tell me that's all you got.-
Truly enraged now, the beast charged him, albeit a little awkwardly due to lacking it's left forepaw. No-Tongue to dodged it's snapping jaws by leaping at the wall, those sharp fangs barely missing his tail. He then pushed off the wall and landed on the beasts head. Instinctively the Raknork started shaking it's head, preventing No-Tongue from lining up a good shot at it's eyes with his tail. He did managed to get a few stinging blows to the things face before it finally balanced on it's hindlegs for a moment so it could knock him off with his remaining forepaw. No-Tongue landed on his feet cat-like, but had to move out of the way quickly when that forepaw came at him, sharp talons meaning to poke some holes into him.
For the next few minutes No-Tongue dodged and ducked the Raknork's attacks, getting in a few blows on those attacking limbs in the meantime: the beast wisely did not attempt to bite him again. Eventually the Raknork stopped it's attacks, realizing that it was the only one getting hurt here. -You ready to negotiate?- No-Tongue asked, relaxing his body but keeping on guard for further attacks.
There is nothing to negotiate. The Raknork sneered. You may best me yet, little gnat, but not before I punish the ones that sent you. For their treachery, I will fest on fish folk flesh!
-The Mizok didn't send me! I came here by acci…- No-Tongue's cry of protest was cut short when the Raknork's tail knocked him off his feet as the beast spin around and retreated back into the main chamber. No it wasn't retreating, No-Tongue quickly realized as he righted himself, it was taking another route out! Fearing for the lives of his new family, he ran after the Raknork as fast as his legs would take him.
He chased the beast into another tunnel, one that was winding and ascending. No-Tongue used every trick he could think of to gain ground on the beast, like alternating between the ceiling and floor and leaping to the inner wall on a turn. He was almost close enough to grab the beast's tail when the tunnel straightened, leaving him now with only pure speed to use to close the remaining gap between them, and his sonar alerted him to a wide open space ahead of them, along with a cliff edge: bastard was going to take flight.
The Raknork paused only for a second to spread it's wings to their full spread, a precious second No-Tongue needed to close the remaining distance. It was almost as if the Raknork knew he was right behind him as that tail suddenly moved out of reach just before it leapt from the cliff. Not stopping to think about it, No-Tongue sped head long at the cliff edge and leapt at the last possible moment. Time seemed to slow as No-Tongue reached with all his might for the end of the Raknork's tail.
And then he was flying.
So this is what it feels like to fly… No-Tongue thought, having only barely managed to grab a hold of the very tip of the beast's tail and was now watching the forest below him speed by. He shook the awe from him though, knowing that his grip was precarious and a good tail shake would dislodge him. If he let go with one hand though he would surely fall anyway, unless…
Without further thought No-Tongue clamped his jaws onto the tail end, his sharp teeth finding purchase where his hands could not. Obviously the pain this caused alerted the Raknork to the stowaway and that tail started lashing about wildly. Despite the grip his jaws had he nearly found himself plummeting to his death, as by now they were high enough from the ground where the fall surely would have killed him. Finally the tail lashing slowed and No-Tongue risked moving up the tail, using the combination of hands and jaws. Every time he bit down with his jaws for purchase brought on another bought of tail lashing, but eventually he was high enough on the tail to allow his hindlegs and tail to help with the griping and he didn't need to bite as much. Plus the spines along the beast's dorsal side proved to be excellent hand holds and didn't cause pain when No-Tongue bit them. By the time they were halfway across the ocean, No-Tongue had successfully reached the beast's back.
Gnat! He heard the Raknork roar and then the beast dove, forcing No-Tongue to grab onto the dorsal spines and hang on for dear life, for the on rushing wind nearly knocked him off. The beast followed up with a dizzying array of turns, stoops, rolls, and dives, all in the attempt to knock the persistent Xeno off.
No-Tongue was glad he didn't get motion sickness…
