Disclaimer: Ranmo and Co. belong to Rumiko Takahashi.
A/N: I'll pretend someone posted a 200th review and this new chapter is for that. But really it's because I'm going on vacation in a week, and so updates to this story will likely be in another 2 weeks or so. Thanks to Angela Jewell for helping this chapter form, and I stole one of your lines too, Angela! :)
Anyways, enjoy!
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Chapter Ten
"Wake up! Wake up, princess!"
The urgency in the whisper dragged Akane up from dream-fogged sleep, forcing her to open her eyes and squint. Luckily, the cave lighting was dim, but that wasn't what made her screw up her eyes.
A small purple ball of light, the size of her fist, hung above her. Within it, a tiny humanoid with white wings and long shaggy purple hair stared down at her. Another fairy?
"Yes, yes, I got the message, little one," Akane said tiredly, sinking back into her blankets. "You're all dying. I'll help, I promise, now just let me sleep…"
"That's true, too, but right now you have to leave!" the fairy squeaked agitatedly.
"Leave? Is it morning already?" Alarmed, Akane craned her neck to look around, and saw scattered piles of sleeping bodies wrapped in blankets. Next to her, Kasumi looked like a curled up angel. She relaxed and smiled at the sight. "No one's up yet. And Hiroshi was on guard."
"The yellow haired one? It's too late. He's been captured."
Akane sat up so fast the purple lightball had to bob out of the way to avoid being slammed by her forehead. "What? Hiroshi captured? By who?" the princess demanded, dread spiking into her and making her clench her fists.
"The Hruthgul, of course! Kyna told me that they found the empty carriage on the side of the road, and they followed your tracks here…"
"Who's Ky..oh, never mind!" Akane thought fast, her heart pounding. "The Hruthgul. All right. Where are they? And how many of them are there?" They could handle a hunting party of five or less, she figured, but the Hruthgul were tough, and they had magic.
"They're right outside the cave, making plans on coming in. As for how many…" The little fairy counted off on his three-fingered hands. "Um, how many fingers do you have?"
"Ten," Akane answered, feeling a chill.
He sighed. "That's not nearly enough."
Akane erupted from her blankets and looked around. Ranma was nowhere to be seen. She spotted Ukyou, who was sleeping with her back against a wall, and ran across to the lieutenant. She shook her but didn't have to do more than that before Ukyou came awake and snapped her spine upright, her sword in her hand even as her eyelashes fluttered open.
"Ssh!" Akane hissed with her finger at her lips. "Enemies outside the cave! Hruthgul!"
Ukyou's eyes widened. "How do you…?" She saw the fairy flying above Akane's head and said, "Oh." She glanced around. "Where's Hiroshi? Wasn't he on guard?" She paused as Akane shook her head.
"Hiroshi was captured," Akane divulged, hoping against hope that the joke-cracking blond soldier was still alive.
Ukyou scowled, then she straightened. "Wait. Where's Ran…ko?"
Akane caught the slip and shrugged, refusing to feel guilty. After all, they were all lying to her. Tough for Ranma if she'd made her feel a little bad about it…
"What's the plan, then?" Ukyou asked next, her gaze sharpening on Akane.
Akane reared back in surprise. "Huh? Why are you asking me? You're Ranma's lieutenant. This is your mission."
"This is your land," Ukyou retorted. "Wake up and smell the sword polish. We wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for you marrying Ranma. What would your course of action be if we weren't here?"
The princess was taken aback by Ukyou's comment for a moment. But it was probably the way all the soldiers felt. Technically, their countries were no longer at war, yet obviously no Islan was likely to want to risk their life for their life-long enemy, she realized, chagrined. It only made this entire mission seem more hopeless. Still, at least she had found Kasumi.
She thought for a moment. Then she turned to the tiny fairy. "You! What's your name?"
The fairy bowed low and answered solemnly, "Linde, your highness."
"Linde, do you know if there's a way out of this cave through the back?"
"I can check, princess." He zoomed off in a streak of purple light.
Ukyou nodded in approval, then stood and began shaking awake the soldiers around her. Akane moved over to Kasumi to wake her.
"Hruthgul?" Her sleepy sister repeated. Her eyes widened in fear. "Akane, no! We can't face them. They're monsters. You should have seen how they killed my retinue. They took no prisoners!"
Akane crouched down to console Kasumi. Her sister was a gentle soul, not used to war and swords and blood.
"Kasumi, it's all right. I promise I'll keep you safe. They're outside but we can escape from them, and we will! They're in the front and they don't know we're leaving out the back. We'll leave them far behind!"
Comforted, Kasumi began to pack hastily.
A couple of minutes later, Linde zoomed back in. "Princess!" he squeaked. "There seems to be an exit, but we must go now. I can hear the Hruthgul starting to circle around! They're looking for other entrances too!"
Even the fairy was panicking. Akane took a deep breath and willed herself to be strong. She could do this. She had no choice. She buckled her sword belt on and shrugged on her backpack. "Very well. Everyone, follow me."
Kasumi, Ukyou and the soldiers followed Akane into the back of the cave. It got pitch black almost immediately, but Akane was afraid to light torches, in case it showed their location to the Hruthgul through any cracks in the cave. Besides, Linde's light was dim but adequate to see by.
Her sister clung close behind her. Akane held Kasumi's hand firmly, determined not to show any fear when she led her group.
"Where's Ranma?" Kunou hissed to Ukyou, who gave him a helpless glare because she didn't know. Ukyou was impressed by Akane, though she didn't like to admit it. The princess, after her initial hesitation, had taken charge quite well, making sure Kasumi was up and ready, and now when haste was needed, she quickly and unflinchingly led the way through the dark tunnels of the cave, despite the fact that Ranma had promised to take care of everything.
Where is that jackass? Ukyou fumed. In the two years she had worked for him, she'd never known Ranma to disappear in a time of need, once! Then again, it was easy to see that the princess had him tied up in knots, and he wasn't thinking straight when it came to her.
Ukyou was surprised the princess was still talking to 'Ranko' after the stunt he'd pulled on her in the garden.
The princess' fairy paused, fluttering in mid-air, looking about uncertainly. They had reached a triple fork in the tunnel, and to Ukyou, they all looked the same.
"Which way, Linde?"Akane asked.
The fairy glanced at her, and hesitantly pointed at the left tunnel. Akane stared up at him for a moment. "Are you sure?"
"No," Linde moaned.
Just then, they all heard the thud of many booted feet running into the cave behind them.
"Dammit! They're going to trap us inside like rats in a bottle!" Ukyou snarled. ""We have to keep moving! It doesn't matter which exit you pick, just pick one!"
"Wait!" Akane paused, held by a thought. They were in the earth, and the earth was the land, which was the domain of the deity. She bowed her head in prayer. Lady, guide me…Show us the way out!
She began to feel warmth in the soles of her feet. Heat from the earth moved up her legs, and then the feeling spread throughout her body. She was aware of the cool air of the cave, as the warmth spread through her and sensitized her skin. She felt the swirl of a gentle current of air licking her elbow. She walked closer to the tunnels.
The boots suddenly sounded again, closer. Linde panicked and began to zip ahead again. Akane reached out with supernatural speed and captured him in her hand.
"No," she pointed to a different shaft. "That way." Linde buzzed and zipped off.
Akane turned to the guards' captain. "Kunou, please take Kasumi and go through that tunnel." She pointed to the third exit. "We'll make the Hruthgul follow us. The third one comes out in a different place. We'll find you."
"But…" Kunou began, looking at Ukyou, who was still bending her mind around the idea that Akane had tapped the deity yet again for help.
Akane shoved Kasumi toward him. "There's no time to argue, just go!"
Kunou took a breath, and nodded. He grabbed Kasumi, who gave Akane a helpless glance before she was pulled through into the dark and they lost sight of the two of them.
"What about us?" Ukyou asked. "Do we stand and fight?"
Akane shook her head and started into the second tunnel that Linde had disappeared into. "No, we draw them away from Kasumi and Kunou. This leads into the open as well. The left one is a dead end."
Also, they were all able to run much more swiftly without Kasumi slowing them down, Ukyou noted admiringly, wondering if Akane had thought of that or if she'd just wanted to protect Kasumi. Perhaps a mix of both, she thought. She shouldn't underestimate the princess.
The tunnel twisted and turned, and always they saw Linde's tiny purple ball ahead, casting shadows on the rock walls of the cave. Eventually, the tunnel grew lighter and it became harder to see him, as the light slowly swallowed his purple lightball.
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They burst into the sunlight, gasping from their run. Akane had never been so glad to see the sun. The green forest spread out all around them, suspiciously quiet.
Akane ran another few steps, until finally her supernatural strength and her breath gave out and she stopped, hands on knees, as she drew in deep gasps of air.
Which was what saved her.
A spinning tomahawk bit the ground not a foot from her toes. Akane stared at it, her pulse setting a renewed rhythm in alarm. It would have gotten her for sure if she'd kept running. Akane glanced up, trying to follow its flight path, but there was no need.
Ten Hruthgul stepped out from behind the trees. Most of them sported war tomahawks, and all were hooded. It was like a repeat of the day of their attack on Castle Tendo, and Akane froze in place.
"Damn it," Ukyou swore, and Akane turned with dismay to see seven more Hruthgul spill out of the cave, growling at them. "Like there weren't enough uglies here already."
Akane instinctively backed up against Ukyou, who faced away from her, so that they faced off against both sides. The other four soldiers did the same. Gosunkugi backed up against Daisuke, and Sasuke teamed up with Konatsu.
Six against seventeen. There weren't nearly enough of them. They were going to die here.
The thought gave Akane fresh courage and she narrowed her eyes and set her teeth. If that was so, so be it. She'd still die fighting for Hidden Lake.
The Hruthgul charged them with their tomahawks, and the group drew their swords. Konatsu and Sasuke sent shurikens spinning towards the enemy, catching them in the chest, which unfortunately were armored.
The first Hruthgul reached Akane and she had to focus as he sent the tomahawk blade curving toward her head. She blocked with her sword, though she felt the impact of the blow all the way up her arms. The strength of the Hruthgul was incredible, and it felt like a boulder crushing down on her biceps. She crouched and swung her blade towards his mid-section, and watched the sword slice through armour and black blood pour out. She spun and kicked him, sending him flying. Another one immediately took his place.
She parried, thrust, danced around him, and watched with amazement as the first Hruthgul dragged himself back into the fight.
Bloody Bane! These creatures were hard to kill.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Ukyou engaged in battle as well. She had taken on three of them at the same time. They really were outnumbered.
On her other side, Gosunkugi was muttering something as he tried to stay out of harm's way. Akane realized with shock that Daisuke was sheltering him. What was going on?
But Daisuke's sword shone with a white glow, and he seemed able to more easily cut through the Hruthgul soldiers. Gosunkugi, it seemed, really did have some sort of sorcerous power as his contribution, not physical combat.
Akane shrugged. It wasn't as though she could do much about it, and besides Daisuke seemed okay with it.
She finally gave a fatal thrust into the throat of the first Hruthgul who attacked her, and had to release her sword's hilt and duck around him when the other Hruthgul she was fighting tried to use the distraction to cleave her in half with his tomahawk. Using the dying Hruthgul's body as a shield, she zipped around his back and kicked the side of the other Hruthgul, who turned slightly too slowly to face her.
He fell, and she used the moment to snatch her sword out of the now dead Hruthgul's throat. The sickly green light in his eyes was gone, leaving them colorless. The second Hruthgul got to his feet to face her and she snarled at him, ready. Her arms were starting to tire though. How many of the enemy was left?
One of the Hruthgul grunted to another in their strange language, and they laughed. Their fighting gained in aggressiveness, as if they sensed victory at hand.
Ukyou and Akane exchanged looks, wondering what to do.
Just then there was a sound like branches breaking, and someone shouted, "Timber!" Everyone paused, startled.
A large tree suddenly came crashing down among them, crushing three Hruthgul under its massive trunk and sending the rest of them scattering in alarm.
Akane looked up at the tree, and did a doubletake. Ranma sat crouched on the trunk, and she stood up, grinning down at all of them.
"Miss me?" she called.
The Hruthgul uttered war cries and as one they rushed her, and she disappeared in a cloud of steel and Hruthgul.
Ukyou dashed forward, determined to help her prince. Akane followed. They climbed onto the trunk and began to attack. A Hruthgul pushed Akane off the trunk, and followed her onto the ground.
Akane managed to land on her feet, but had to bring up her sword lengthwise to clash against the Hruthgul as he jumped off the trunk with his tomahawk aimed at her.
He growled aggressively, hacking at her with his weapon and driving her back. The sheer strength of his blows was so great that she had little choice but to defend herself, with no chance for attack in return.
A raptor's shriek echoed through the forest.
The hapless Hruthgul looked up, just as Mousse dropped from the sky like a stone, hellfire trailing from his claws. He landed on the Hruthgul's shoulder and his beak tore into the leather-tough neck, spraying black blood on his feathers and Hruthgul armour.
The Hruthgul staggered and tried to pull at Mousse, his hood falling back as he did so and exposing his hellish visage. But the helhawk flapped his wings and rose, before swooping downwards and clawing the Hruthgul's face. He ripped out one green eye, and helfire from Mousse's claws raced over the Hruthgul's hair, causing him to roar with pain.
Akane seized the opportunity to plunge her sword to the hilt in the Hruthgul's stomach.
The creature screamed and keeled over, still burning.
"Thanks Mousse!" she panted as the helhawk released his hold and flew upwards. He squawked in reply.
Akane looked around and saw that Ranma was leaping off the tree trunk. A few Hruthgul were left but more were coming through the cave exit.
"There's too many!" the redhead yelled, sheathing her sword and running towards Akane. "We need to get the hell out of here!"
The soldiers and Ukyou followed her, running closely behind.
Ranma grabbed Akane's hand as she passed her. "Let's go, Princess!" she yelled.
Akane allowed herself to be pulled along, and then began to actively run as the Hruthgul shouted in rage and began to follow them.
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They ran along the forest path, dodging thrown tomahawks and weaving through the trees. Akane felt as though everything blurred around her, as though she was running in slow motion. Her heart thudded in her chest at the exertion. She glanced around and saw that thankfully, they hadn't lost anyone else.
Occasionally, Mousse's shadow flitted on the ground beneath her feet, showing that he was keeping pace.
The forest became grassier and more open on their left, giving way to a precipice that fell away steeply. Ukyou and the rest began to angle back to the more wooded area, seeking cover.
Akane looked back and was startled to see that one Hruthgul, the fastest one, was nearly upon her. The Hruthgul sent his tomahawk flying after her, and she was forced to stop and duck. Unfortunately, he had a twin one that he sent almost immediately after the second one. This one came flying straight at her face, and Akane screamed.
A slim feminine hand appeared in her vision and snatched the handle of the tomahawk out of thin air. Ranma stood before her, a fierce expression on her face.
"You don't touch her," she snarled, pulling her sword out of her sheath.
The Hruthgul attacked with his massive fist and Ranma's braid whipped out as she ducked the blow and swung in a circle in one smooth move, bringing her sword around and up into the Hruthgul's chest.
The power of the extra spin caused the sword to punch through the armour, into skin and flesh. The Hruthgul fell to his knees.
Ukyou and the rest hadn't noticed that Akane and Ranma had stopped, and they led the rest of the Hruthgul on a chase deeper into the woods.
Two of the Hruthgul stopped, however, to help their comrade. One of them took on Ranma to help his fellow, and the other attacked Akane. He had lost his tomahawk, and he came at her with his wickedly sharp black claws. Akane wondered why he didn't use magic to defeat her. She had no defense against that. Could it be that not all Hruthgul could use magic?
She had a much longer reach with her sword, and it possibly made her cocky. She sliced at him, wounding him on the shoulder and drawing black blood. He screamed with rage and pain, and she grinned. Further away, Ranma stabbed the other Hruthgul in the eye, finishing him off.
Heartened, Akane plunged her sword toward him again. He opened his eyes and grabbed her sword, yanking her forward.
"Aack!Dammit!" she yelled, panic filling her as she came within dangerous range of those killing claws.
The Hruthgul swiped his claws again at Akane, and she leaped backwards and then back again, landing lightly but dangerously near the edge of the cliff. Unexpectedly, the ground beneath her feet began to crumble. Akane screamed as the cliff gave way beneath her. She fell back, her hand reaching out…her fingers grasping empty air as she fell.
"Akane! No!" Ranma cast her opponent's body aside and leapt forward with every bit of strength and speed she had, but it was too late. Akane's wide eyes were the last thing the horrified redhead saw before she dashed to the edge, unmindful of the dangerously unstable edge.
A splash reached her ears just as she looked down to see Akane thrashing helplessly in the river below. Ranma collapsed to her knees as her heart began to beat again. Thank the gods. Akane was still alive.
The dark head disappeared, and didn't reappear. Ranma's pulse began to pick up the pace as she realized- the princess was either unconscious or the current was too fast for her.
Behind her, another Hruthgul was approaching at a run with a battle axe in hand. Ranma glanced back, took a split second to weigh her options, and stood. She faced forward and smoothly dove into the river. At that moment, Akane's head cleared the surface one more time and she looked up into Ranma's eyes, her mouth open with panic and shock.
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Ranma hit the water, surging toward the bottom. The current wasn't strong here so it wasn't hard to swim to the surface and find Akane, who was struggling in the middle of the river where it as deeper. Ranma stroked swiftly over to her and caught her under the arms.
Akane began to struggle as she found herself caught in a viselike grip, wet hair in her eyes preventing her from recognizing friend from foe.
A familiar voice made her freeze. "Stop it, idiot! I'm trying to rescue you!"
The princess allowed herself to be hauled to shallower water, where she was able to stand knee deep in the water. She pushed away from her rescuer to stand straight and shove her hair out of her face.
She looked up, and up, into slate-blue eyes. "Ranma?" she whispered. Shock stole the power from her voice.
It was a jolt to hear his name from her. Ranma suddenly recalled the temperature of the river. It had been warm.
Did she know? She couldn't. But she'd met his eyes as he fell. There was nothing for it but to brazen it out.
He winked at Akane and grinned. "Hello, lover. I'm back."
Akane's eyes narrowed and she let out a scream of rage. She leapt onto Ranma with her legs bent, her knees catching him in the ribs as her weight sent him crashing backwards into the water. She wrapped both hands around his throat as she straddled him, holding his face underwater so that the air from his mouth released in a stream of bubbles in the water.
They struggled for the upper hand. Ranma grabbed her hips and flipped them both, causing Akane to shriek as she found herself underwater, under Ranma. She pushed him off with her feet before he could settle onto her. The force of the push sent her skating backwards, and Ranma lost his grip on her in the swirling of the river water.
Akane fought to her knees and whipped her hand through the water, sending it spraying into Ranma's eyes. For a split second he was blinded, and she used the moment to sidekick him further into the river.
Ranma flipped in mid-air and landed in the water, upright. He cleared water from his eyes and looked around for his wife, but the princess was already halfway up the bank.
Ranma cursed. He looked up briefly to the crumbling cliff above him, but there was no sign of pursuit. The Hruthgul had decided to chase Ukyou and his men instead. There was at least that to be thankful for. Above them, the Hruthgul thundered past, in search of Ukyou and the rest.
"Where are you going, Akane?" he called.
Akane looked back. "Away from you, you lying pig."
Ranma shook his head. "That's not gonna happen, sweetheart," he said under his breath, too softly for her to hear him. It didn't matter. He set off after her.
In Islay, Ranma's speed was legendary. As Akane found out when she heard him approaching swiftly. She glanced behind her and squeaked to see that he was nearly upon her.
She raced up the bank, but Ranma tackled her and they rolled back down the incline to land in the water.
"Damn you, Saotome!" Akane struggled, but this time Ranma didn't release her.
"What was all that about?" he asked, puzzled. Was she mad that he'd taken off on his 'mission from his father' and presumably left her alone with Ranko for days? Had she realized he was Ranko when she saw the redhead fall into the water and climb out a man? He wouldn't have expected her to have processed it that quickly though. No one ever had.
He pulled her to her feet, and Akane paused when she saw his sodden torso and his dark hair. She reached out and tentatively laid a hand on his broad, muscular chest, her fingers brushing the damp folds of his shirt. The very same shirt Ranko had been wearing.
"It's flat," she said softly, thinking out loud. "So it's true about Jusenkyou."
Ranma reared back as though struck. "You know about my curse?"
Akane's eyes widened, and she looked up at him with sudden chagrin. It was all the answer he needed, and understanding flooded him. "You knew I was Ranko? All this time?" he growled, grasping her shoulders and shaking her so hard that droplets of river-water flew from her drenched clothes. "And you flaunted yourself in front of me, you little tease, torturing me, making me think…"
Akane smirked up at her furious husband. "That's right, Ranma." she taunted him. "You lied to me, you jerk, telling me Ranko was your relative! It was you the whole time!" She poked him in the chest with a triumphant finger.
Ranma stilled, and a speculative gleam came into his blue eyes. "That may be so, but damn, I missed this." He hooked a hand around Akane's nape and pulled the surprised princess into a searing kiss, his lips covering hers with shocking intimacy.
Akane's head whirled with confusion and irritation, and a sudden longing as Ranma continued to kiss her. She hesitantly opened her palms so that they rested on his chest. Ranma hummed with satisfied approval and pulled her closer, continuing his kiss.
He raised his head. "Mm, soap."
"What?" Akane mumbled, confused. Was he saying she tasted like soap?
Ranma smirked, remembering the soapy trails sliding down Akane's nude body in the forest pool. "I have a couple of lessons to teach you, sweetheart."
Akane reared back cautiously at the smug endearment. "Lessons? What do you mean by that?"
Ranma lowered his head and sucked on the tender flesh between Akane's shoulder and neck. He could taste the river on her skin. Her head fell back in unwilling submission. His teeth found her and she yelped and raised her head to glare down at him. He laved his tongue over the spot soothingly in apology. Her fingers gripped his upper arms as she fought to escape him, but Ranma only pulled her closer, until they were melded together in a fusion of wet clothing and warm bodies, the river still swirling around them.
Ranma raised his head and surveyed the violet bruise forming on Akane's skin with satisfaction.
"You called me shy, I recollect? In bed?" he murmured, watching her. Akane blushed and tried to look away, but Ranma grasped her chin and forced her to meet his gaze. Her lashes reluctantly rose and she looked at him.
"So?" she demanded, her skin prickling.
He smirked widely. "I'll enjoy refreshing your memory, wife."
Akane stared up at him and blushed fiercely, delighting Ranma."How did you find out, any way?" he asked curiously.
"I overheard you and Ukyou talking. And I've heard of Jusenkyou before."Akane shivered, and Ranma realized he needed to get them out of their wet clothes. The thought brought a smile, but he also needed a place for them to recuperate safely away from the enemy, as well as figure out how to find his men.
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Akane was about to reply when she looked over Ranma's shoulder. Her eyes widened.
Ranma turned around to see a seal-grey horse trotting along the riverbank towards them. She was a comely creature, easily fifteen hands high, strong, powerful, and breathtaking in appearance.
She appeared to have recently crossed the river, as her flowing mane was still soaking wet, dribbling water down her withers and shoulders.
She neighed when she saw them, and closed the last few yards between them to be petted.
Ranma reached up and stroked her nose. "Hey girl," he said coaxingly. "Aren't you lovely. Where did you come from?""
The horse neighed softly and rubbed her head against the prince's shoulder. Ranma turned to his wife.
"It looks like our travel problems are solved. This lady looks like she'd be glad to carry us."
Akane stared at them speculatively. The horse and the man made a dashing picture indeed, though there was something tickling the back of her mind that she felt she should recall but simply could not.
"We don't even know where she came from," Akane said. "She could belong to a farmer or a woodsman."
Ranma frowned and stared at the horse, who stared back limpid-eyed. "A beauty like her? She looks like a warhorse. I don't think she's ever felt a plow on her back, have you, girl?"
The horse snorted.
"I thought not," Ranma agreed. "This beauty obviously unseated some poor noble. If we take her with us, there's more chance of finding out who she belonged to, than letting her get lost in the forest."
"I suppose that's true," Akane said slowly, though she still hesitated. The horse looked very high.
"Besides, it means we won't have to walk far in our wet clothes," Ranma said persuasively.
Akane felt the sopping wet weight of her tunic, leather leggings and boots. Her poor boots. The less she had to walk in them, the better.
But still…
"Oh, come on!" Ranma lost patience, and grabbing Akane around the waist, easily hoisted her onto the back of the horse before she could do more than squeak in surprise. It was a bit disconcerting how much larger and stronger Ranma was in his current form.
He jumped on in front of her and grabbed the horse's mane. "C'mon, girl, let's go for a ride."
Akane yelped and threw her arms around Ranma's waist as the horse trotted forward along the riverbank, causing Ranma's wet clothing to rub against her. The sensation was uncomfortable, and she shifted around, trying to find a better position.
She became aware of Ranma's shoulders shifting back against her as he tugged on the horse's mane.
"Not that way, girl," he called laughingly. "You'll drown us all!"
Chilled in a way that had nothing to do with her clothing, Akane peeked over Ranma's shoulder to see that the horse had started to veer off to the left, bringing them deeper and deeper into the river.
The horse was knee deep in the water now, but seemed to have no inclination to leave.
A memory struck Akane like lightning and she jerked forward in her seat, clamping her hands down on Ranma's shoulders as she craned her head forward. The horse was now headed full tilt into the river, and the water was cresting at her chest.
"What the hell is going on?" Ranma exclaimed, trying to turn the horse with his legs. It was hard to do since she had no bridle, stirrups or reins.
"We're in trouble," Akane muttered.
Ranma threw an incredulous glance over his shoulder at her. "Mistress of the obvious! Tell me something I don't know, princess!"
"Like why this is happening?" Akane retorted. "We're riding a water horse! A kelpie! She's going to ride us into the river and drown us both! That's what they do!"
Ranma strained to lift his leg from the kelpie's side, but it was impossible. The kelpie's hide had turned adhesive.
"It won't work, see?" Akane removed her arms from Ranma and flung them wide, still staying on easily despite the horse's gait.
"This just gets worse and worse," Ranma muttered. The kelpie tossed her head, and her neighing sounded peculiarly human.
They had both lost their weapons in the fall into the river, so short of strangling the horse, there was little to do except hold on as the horse plunged them into the river.
Water rushed around them, swirling around their heads as Ranma and Akane were pulled into the depths of the river.
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Yikes! How will Ranma and Akane make their way out of this mess? Stay tuned!
And don't worry, I'm not going to use the deus ex machina of the goddess hauling them out of trouble...
*koff* Ahem - Reading reviews on my vacation would go a looooong way towards me writing on said vacation, just FYI! :D
P.S.- Again, thanks for telling me what you liked in the last chapter. It was awesome to read!