Part 1
Chapter 10 He Must Be So Worried
The skies began to brighten as the night faded. To them both, the night seemed prolonged…almost magical, though nothing past kissing had taken place. There had been a moment of complete silence as they simply stared at each other. KOS-MOS had been the first to look away and then Ziggurat followed suit.
Once again the duo had no idea what should be done at this point. The man was already having doubts about ever escaping this prison. The two simply decided to walk the entire area they were in. No clues would present themselves to them by simply staying in one spot. Ziggurat wondered if there was a supply of freshwater on this island seeing as they were now human. Many things that had not been needed before was vital to their survival. Ziggurat explained as best he could to KOS-MOS these things, but she scarcely believed him. What of this food he spoke of? Why was it that humans needed it? What of washing yourself in the morning?
Ziggurat noted other things such as KOS-MOS's personality. It had taken a profound change from her rude, thoughtless attitude. She had been detached and foreign to him when they had first met. Something in her allowed no emotion, but then slowly this began to change just as he had experienced. A humane feeling had come over them rendering them able to communicate. At first their conversations had been strictly to-the-point and there was always a purpose to it, but since yesterday, there was hardly any point at all. As goes with the human spirit, curiosity manifested and so did the need to know one another more closely; companionship. KOS-MOS wasn't fully aware of this change, but Ziggurat who had already been human before, saw this instantly.
On they walked until Ziggurat heard a faint trickle of water. He motioned for her to follow which she did without question. She had grown to trust him completely. They soon arrived at a wide and winding river with clear blue water. KOS-MOS looked at this with amazement, never had she seen such fresh water. She went over to it instantly, filled with curiosity.
"Wait, KOS-MOS--"
His warning was ill received as her soft hand touched the cool water.
"There's nothing wrong with it, Ziggurat," said she as he bent down beside her.
"Luckily, but if there was, you'd be the first to be harmed…or killed."
"Why are you so worried all of sudden?"
"Ah, KOS-MOS, we still don't know anything about this place. Though nothing has happened so far, there's still a chance that--"
"Don't tell me it's back to be on your guard at all times"
"You're going to thank me in the end," said he encouragingly.
The river was constantly going downstream being purified by the groundwater continuously.
"So, Ziggurat, what did you mean about washing yourself?"
"Well, it isn't as if we have a soap and rag with which to wash. You'll simply have to step in and let the clean water wash over you."
"Won't my clothes get wet?"
"Not if you take it off before you step in."
Ziggurat looked around and saw nothing to hide behind. He sighed and realized what he had to do.
"KOS-MOS, tell me when you're finished."
The woman looked at him confused, "Aren't you coming with me?"
She received an are-you-crazy look from him. So innocent thought the man.
"KOS-MOS, it is considered perverted to watch a woman strip down and clean herself," said he as if she was already supposed to know this.
KOS-MOS nodded holding back her why? questions. Ziggurat sat on the ground with his back to the riverbed. The only challenge that lay plainly before him was the temptation. He forcedly took his mind off present matters and thought about the future. How were they to escape? What dangers were awaiting them and where? It wasn't as if he was asking for trouble, but it was all together too peaceful. What secrets was the Zohar hiding? Ziggurat didn't exactly want to run into unforeseen dangers seeing that now he was less capable to fend anything off. It was true that he knew some fighting tactics, but it was hardly enough to defeat a formidable character like Voyager. Just saying the name set his mind into anger and turmoil. He knew it was a subject that he knew he was not yet ready to face. Not yet…
In that instant a finger tapped his shoulder, Ziggurat nearly jumped out of his skin while KOS-MOS finding this amusing laughed helplessly. It was something she hadn't expected; she thought him to be brave and scared of nothing.
"That wasn't funny," said he embarrassed.
He was thinking again. What was it that it could set his nerves on end?
"I'm finished," said she after a fit of laughter.
She in turn sat down with her back to the riverbank.
"You know," said the man thoughtfully, "a woman wouldn't be punished as harsh as a man for spying on someone bathing."
KOS-MOS grinned though Ziggurat wasn't able to see this.
He quickly took off his clothes and slipped into the cool water. The water felt pleasing to his uncleansed skin. He soon became completely submerged into the soothing water as it gushed by. After a long moment he decided to resurface. He found himself face to face with KOS-MOS.
"KOS-MOS! What are you doing here?"
She wasn't smiling in the least . Ziggurat knew instantly that something was wrong.
"Look above you, there's a bird…a very large one."
"Gudaw! Gudaw!" cried the bird from afar.
"Don't just stand there KOS-MOS. Give me my clothes!"
"That's the problem…the bird has it."
A look of distress crossed his face.
"I won't laugh," pronounced KOS-MOS.
"Laugh at what? As if I'm coming out of this river."
"But what am I going to do with you here?"
"Run. KOS-MOS, that bird is still circling, this is the perfect time."
"I can't leave you--"
"Don't worry, I'll just swim downstream with you."
"What about your clothes?"
"Listen, KOS-MOS, that creature has obviously been following me ever since I escaped into the forest. Somehow it recovered its wounds within the span of merely three days. I'm betting that it will continue to follow and soon it will come in for a landing to attack…with my clothes in tow."
KOS-MOS nodded and was already running downstream. Just as Ziggurat had predicted the bird followed them with its great wings cutting through the air. The bird slowly began to drop altitude coming in for an attack. The man has his own plans as it glided close to the ground towards them, but before he could voice them, the woman stepped in front of the man who was still in the water.
"Ziggurat, trust me, I have a plan."
"Which is?"
"Sorry, there's no time to explain!"
"KOS-MOS, wait!"
She ran directly in front of the bird; her eyes showed only determination. She spoke a small prayer and waited for the bird to reach jumping distance. This moment came in a blink of an eye, but KOS-MOS was prepared and leaped nimbly on top of one of the bird's outstretched wings. Her finger gripped the feathers deathly hard. She felt her body lift into the air. Wind crashed into her face as it slid off the rest of her slim body as she lie flat, vertically on the wing. Her eyes seek out Ziggurat's clothes which sat comfortably between the bird's beak. KOS-MOS realized that the bird was circling again. One side of the bird was tilted in order to do this, KOS-MOS was on the tilted side. She began to climb towards it's head but suddenly her position changed as the bird began to flap wildly, trying to ruin her grip. The woman gritted her teeth. I'm going to fall if this keeps up! I'm too far in the air for that to happen. Then she noticed a great puncture wound on the wing. The wound seemed only beginning to heal itself. I have a plan… She crawled back down the wing to the wound. It was nasty business reopening the wound, but it was all she had left to do. Just as she tore off the scar tissue (scab), greenish yellow blood erupted in her face. A loud, piercing cry rose from the great bird and the clothes simply slipped away from its grasp. KOS-MOS was relieved, but then realized something; how was she to get down? Ziggurat. He must be so worried.
6666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666AN: And finally she adds suspense. Oh and since this is teen rated, I didn't want to get too perverted lol.