Chapter Nine: Strangers Return
We set out the next day with all the gear to gather food and water. I kept one eye out for the strangers in the colored clothes and one eye out for the different 'locals'. I told them to drop markers even though I knew the way just in case they have to run away they won't be lost.
We make it to the tree with no problems and the others just gasp in astonishment. The tree is pretty amazing and they haven't even seen how easy it is to peel off the bark. I smile at them and say "let's get the food first and then the water."
All I get is nods as they stand with mouth wide open. I couldn't help but chuckle and walk around the back of tree to dump all the water bags. I walk back around with just the food bag and they haven't moved from their spot. I walk over and give a shove and just like dominoes they fall down. I laugh hysterically and they just glare at me but at least I have their attention now.
"Okay guys so all you need to do is this." I say as I walk up to the tree and demonstrate peeling off the bark and putting it in the bag.
Still glaring they get up and brush themselves off as they approach the tree. They don't say anything to me they just get to work in gathering the food. After I am sure they know how to get the bark I hand the bag over to Scott and head to the back of the tree to start digging the hole for water. After a few minutes I hear them call out to me and yell back "I'm around the back bring the bag with you!"
They come around the tree and say "What are you doing Christy?"
"I'm digging for water." I tell them without stopping digging the hole deep enough to reach the water.
"I'll take over now my arms are longer." Nick says and crouches down next to me.
I move out of the way and let him start digging. "Remember to make the hole wide the water is pretty deep and you need to get the purse in there as well." I tell him wiping off my hands on my legs.
Soon enough we have our food and water finished and we are on our way back home. I had a feeling that we would need to head back out so I told the others to head for the tree and wait for me there while I brought our stuff back. They gave me weird looks but agreed to do it. I made that trip in record time because that feeling was getting stronger. I was starting to get a feeling of danger but it didn't feel like we were in danger but someone else.
I met them back at the tree and I knew they wanted to bombard me with questions but I just held up my hand for silence and concentrated on the feelings I had. I used a sense of strength test as I turned slowly around I felt the pull of the feelings get stronger when I faced the right direction.
"We need to go that way someone needs our help" I tell them and then start to walk fast in that direction.
They quickly catch up to me and Nick asks me "what do you mean someone needs our help? What is going on Christy?" The others nod along to him as they wonder the same thing.
"I have been having feelings all day and this is where the feelings are pulling me towards. I don't want us to be separated that's why I didn't send you back with the food and water." I tell him and then speed up since the feeling is starting to get more intense I think I can see a blurred image in my mind of colors.
Scott snorts and says "we are following a feeling Christy?"(Good job! Christy always put your trust in your feelings. Even the bad ones cause that can save your life one day. It did for Ani and Obi-wan many times.) (Yes well Scott's lack of faith in me was getting annoying.)
"My feelings kept us from being eaten by the cannibals Scott so do not act surprised if I choose to follow them." I remind them and break into a jog. That blurred image is starting to get clearer in my mind and I can see it is the multi-colored clothes those people were wearing. 'Oh shit if they can read life signs they may have seen us gather supplies and we are close enough to the cannibals that they would think we are the same camp. I have to save them they'll be eaten!' I start to run towards the cannibal camp with the others not far behind me.
In the distance I can see a group of the multi-colored clothes and I look for a way we can intercept them. I ran and waved the others to follow me I don't have time to argue or debate with them I need to save these idiots from the cannibals. We got ahead of them and I stood in their path along with the others. Just like the last time I saw these people one of them shoots at us hitting each of my friends before they can duck. I drop down and glare at the shooter. It's the mother effer who shot me. Seriously do they have to bring him? At least they can take his gun away I mean it's obvious he doesn't know how to use it properly.
Oh miracles of miracles the others actually stopped him shooting. "We need her awake to ask questions." A man with a hairband over his eyes said.
I stand up and glare at them then I looked at my friends. I need to get them out of the sun but I don't really want these assholes to know where we live. I don't have a choice the others first then deal with how to stay away from these damn bastards later. I bend down and grab Megan wow I can't believe that I can carry her.
A woman and the man who spoke picked up my boys I wasn't thrilled but at least dirty harry didn't touch them.(Wow somebody has a few issues huh) (He shot me and my friends that's not issues it's common sense.) Well no turning back now they have my men I nod my head in the direction of home and lead them to our ship. At least they can keep up and I only stopped once to get them to walk single file so they don't announce to everything on the planet 'hey this way to fresh meat.' I got strange looks from them but they stayed single file.
We made it to our ship and I laid Megan down in my spot on the floor. I walked up to the woman and grabbed Scott and placed him next to Megan. The man caught on and walked to me and laid Nick down next to Scott. I smiled at him and then stood with my arms crossed and waited for the interrogation to begin.
The multi-colored clothes people looked around and they frowned at what they saw. The shooter spoke in a growl "where is the commander child?"
I look at him like he is an idiot because he is if he thinks I know what the hell he is talking about. The man spoke next "we lost our first officer while looking for you. He was taken by humanoid group that we ran into. Do you know anything about them?"
'Oh shit the cannibals caught one of them!' I nod and sigh I will have to go rescue this commander person for them.
The shooter grabs for his gun again and growls at me "where did you take him?"
I glare at him I mean how he dare accuse me of being like him stupid bastard. I decide to ignore him since he is not worth my time. I point at my friends on the ground then I gesture to them to stay. I want them to stay here and guard my people after all if shooter is so quick to go for the gun he might as well be put to a good use.
The woman speaks to this really pale man "go with her."
I shake my head no; I don't need to be worrying about someone else in the middle of a rescue mission. They are going to insist and their commander doesn't have time to debate with them. I wave him after me and rush out the door. I run flat out to the cannibal camp and pale guy easily keeps up. This is good he is fit he is going to need his stamina real soon.
We approach the camp and I slow down to walk so I can catch my breath and find where they have these peoples' commander. He is tied to the ground spread eagle and the whole village appears to be around him. Okay I need a plan so I sink to the ground and pale guy does the same without being told. I like this guy he has brains. (Unlike some children we know at least you found some. I am so proud of you our little girl is growing up. You know everyone she is gonna yell at us again for writing in her journal if we ain't nicer. So everyone be nice this means you Arlen, Rafael, Alphonse. YES BOSS LADY. I am really a guy you all know. But you got a chick's body now so lady it is Master, Assholes every last one of ya.) (You don't know how to be nicer that's why I yell at you so much.)
If the people had seen us at the tree I could sneak in free the man and they could make a mad dash for the tree as I drew the others away. But we met up with them away from the tree so that won't work. Alright so sneak and divert won't work so looks like it go in guns a blazing. I check the pale mans' waist to see he has that gun thing too and he does. Okay so I gesture for him to grab his gun and shoot everything in a great big distraction while I sneak in and free his commander man. Pale man agrees and we go into the village.
It worked I don't know why it worked but it did. We got the man out and I grabbed each by a hand and hauled ass to the tree. The entire village is on our tail I guess I am really popular. When we got close to the tree I sling shot them ahead of me so they can climb first and I got them situated just in time. I lay half on top of them and half between them with my hand over their mouths so they know to be quiet.
It was like every other time that they came near the tree. Eventually they gave up and lost interest I made them wait even longer before I stood up and let them climb down first. I lead them back home where their people and mine were waiting.
I was fucking pissed when I looked for my people they were missing these bastards kidnapped my people. I snarled in rage and launched myself at the ones that I left behind. Pale guy grabbed me at the same time that damn mountain face man shot me again.
