A/N:

Thanks for the reviews.

Chapter 14

Welcome to the suck called the bog

All of them stared blankly ahead at more thick stinky mud. It took every bit of energy they had to get to the little island that was just big enough to support all four of them. Night was coming and with no wood to make a fire or shelter, it was going to be a long one. Prue knew she had to get her boots off and let her feet breathe as sharp pain was coming and going. Paige has already empty her stomach twice because of the rib while Phoebe was still dazed. Piper grabbed the canteen out of the backpack she tossed on the ground and went to Prue. She got a good look at her sisters feet while Prue looked pale as bits of skin were hanging off with spots of blood.

"Oh god Prue," Piper said and sat down next to her.

"Piper I don't know how to make this any better," Prue said and tried not to look at them.

"You rest and stay off of them," Piper said and gave her the canteen so she could get some water in her.

"Thanks but Paige needs this more than me," Prue said and tried to push it away but Piper just pushed it back.

"We all do right now."

Paige wiped her mouth and slowly got up from her hunched over position and sat down next to Piper. "Now I'm hungry again," she said as she took a drink of water.

"You ok?" Piper asks while Paige got a look at Prue's feet.

"Oh honey your feet," Paige replied and started looking through the backpack for anything that would help.

"Paige its ok I just need to rest," Prue said and put her hand on Paige's arm to get her to stop looking. Paige slumped her body as the energy to even look was too much. "How is Phoebe?"

"I think she is trying to find a happy spot," Piper replied as her younger sister was still just staring out into space. "I will give her some water," she said and grunted when she got up as a dizzy spell come over her. She stood for a few seconds to let it pass while she had her eyes closed and then continued to Phoebe. "Hay you need this," she said and took hold of her arm to snap her out of it. Phoebe moved her gaze from the abyss and looked at her.

"Piper hi," she said slowly coming back to reality.

"Here," Piper said and helped her drink from the canteen because Phoebe's hands were shaking badly.

"Thanks."

Piper pulled out the parachute from the backpack and laid on half down on the wet and cold ground and would use the other half as a covering for the night. Prue knew that Piper was exhausted and she kept coughing for some reason and she thought she got some of the disgusting mud in her mouth. She wanted to help but her feet just would not cooperate and lay on her back to keep from getting sick. Paige could barely move as any movement just wanted to make her scream and Phoebe was still going in and out of reality. This bog was the worst they have experienced so far and it was not done as they had to do it again the next day. She hoped that after a good night's rest it would be ok, but Prue's feet were bad and infection was starting. She watched as Piper guided Phoebe to the makeshift bed and made her lay down and then she came for her. Paige felt Piper's hand take hers and tried to keep her movement to a minimal as she laid her next to Phoebe.

"Prue I need to get you on the parachute," Piper said and helped her scoot on it and next to Paige. Piper looked at the remaining water and contemplated on using it to clean Prue's feet off. She bit her lower lip and looked out over the bog as the sun was getting even with the horizon. She used a portion of the Jaguar fur because it was dry from being in the backpack to dry Prue's feet after words. She sparingly used the water on one foot as Prue sat up.

"Piper we need that," she said.

"Prue we will find some in the morning, right now you need this," Piper said and continued. Prue felt the clean water hit her feet and it stopped the pain for a moment until Piper started to clean and dry them off. She then wrapped her feet in the warm fur and it felt so much better. She then pulled the other half of the parachute over her family as she would get in last. Piper tried to make sure almost every part of them was covered to keep the biting insects out and keep them warm. It was still light out but it was fading fast as all of them fell asleep dreading the next day and the bog to come. The night was a mixture of coughing, tossing and turning for the most part but the bugs could not get in and that help greatly. Paige was the first to wake and it was still somewhat dark as she crawled out of the parachute and went over to the edge of the little island they make their home for tonight. Her body was reeling against her as she continued her vomiting from earlier and she had a little diarrhea to add to her misery. She has never felt so weak in her life and all of them were fairly healthy people as they worked out together to lose the baby fat and keep their self's up for demon attacks. Phoebe was the next to wake and did the same thing as Prue dragged herself out from under the cover to also get rid of the nausea.

"I think we are sick," Paige said while rocking slightly.

"How?" Prue asks.

"Those bugs we ate, I have not felt well since then," Phoebe replied while covering her mouth. Prue looked up at the fading night sky and could see the beacon taunting them. It was far in the distance and way passed the bog in front of them and the tree line past that. She had no idea how long it would take to get there but her feet were unusable at the moment and the thought of dragging her self-crossed the other part was something she believed she might not be up to. Piper woke up and could tell that she was alone under the cover and climbed out to check on them.

"Oh god you guys scared me, I thought you left without me," Piper said as relief came over her but when the sun began to rise, she could tell something was wrong. "Are you guys ok?"

"No I think we have food poisoning, or bug," Paige replied.

"What?"

"How do you feel?" Prue asks as Piper did not eat any of the so-called bug dinner last night because she was too exhausted and just wanted to lay down.

"Ok I mean not great but not sick," Piper replied as Paige emptied her stomach again but nothing was really coming out as it was more dry heaving than anything else. Piper grabbed the canteen and realizes she used the remaining water to clean off Prue's feet. She looked around at the relatively barren landscape that was just mostly mud and grass that was soaked. Without being able to boil the water it would be a disastrous thing to drink it as they were already ill. She stood up and looked at where they came from and where they needed to go while Prue unraveled the fur to check her feet. They were dry but now the true damage could be seen. Her skin was peeling off and the purplish color on her toes and heals was the first sign of infection. Piper almost joined Phoebe in throwing up as she looked away.

"We can't stay here," Prue said knowing they needed water badly. "So listen, you guys go on without me once you hit the beacon I should be returned home," she finished.

"We are not leaving anyone alone Prue, I will drag you a crossed this thing if I need too," Piper said as she gathered the canteen and cut some of the parachute to make a small bag.

"Piper what are you doing?" Phoebe asks while trying to stand but just fell back down and lost consciousness for a moment.

"Phoebe stay still you're completely dehydrated," Piper said as Paige helped her sit up." I will go back and find water, wood and food so you guys can get your strength back, and Prue we will use a sled of some kind to pull you a crossed."

"The hell you are, Piper you're not 100% either and going across alone is too dangerous," Prue said and she tried to put weight on her feet but then screamed in pain and fell back down on her backside.

"It will only take two hours and then maybe a few more hours to forage and I will be back in no time," Piper said but she knew she was downplaying it. "Prue we have no choice, I am the only one who could do this right now," she continued as her sister was about to protest.

"For god's sake be careful," Prue said as there was no way of changing her mind.

"I will," Piper said and grabbed her machete and put it in the holster. She rapped the small bag she made around her waist and took Phoebe's spear to give her leverage on the mud. Her other sisters tried not to show their panic as they were on the verge of passing out from dehydration. Piper looked across the bog they struggled with yesterday as the sun was lighting it up and on the surface it looked so innocent but once she got on all fours and started the journey, the innocence was replaced with thick mud that threaten to swallow anyone who dared to stay too long in one place on it. The sulfur smell was already filling her nostrils as she moved like an inch worm on it. It was only about a mile long but because of having to move so slowly and every muscle was in full punishment it would take at least two hours or more. Prue moved herself to the edge so she could keep an eye on her the whole time as Phoebe could no longer sit straight up and had to lie down while her eyes forced themselves closed. The last time she remembered feeling this way was right after she gave birth and he gave her a sedative to help her sleep. Her entire body was beyond week it was shutting down and so was Paige's.

"Keep her safe mom," Prue whispered while looking up.

Piper was only in it for about 15 minutes and already was feeling the burn on her arms and legs and her thirst became more demanding. It was tempting to drink the water that flowed on the top of the mud but it would just make her sick and right now they needed her to get back with clean water and food. She would occasionally stop to get a breather but the moment she felt herself begin to sink, she panicked and moved forward again. The sun was not helping as it heated up the temperature making the stink more permeated. She would grunt with every lift of her legs as the mud wanted to keep her in its grasp for eternity. She was now covered head to toe in the stuff but it did help keep the mosquitoes at bay for once. She wanted to stand as her back was becoming quite sore but that would make it impossible to move and she could even get completely stuck where one of her sisters would need to help her. She knew that in their condition that they would die on the way and would not let that happen. She decided to distract her mind by picturing her kids and husband on the other side and that gave her purpose. She stopped as a snake slithered right in front of her but did not seem to notice her presence as the mud was hiking her body heat. She had no idea what kind it was but was not about to find out if it was poisonous or not and kept perfectly still while holding her breath. Other insects including centipedes and large cockroaches would scurry past her and even crawl on her back as she was focused on the other end. Prue lost sight of her because she blended into the mud and was out of view. She also could no longer fight the process of needed to lie down and sleep. Now it was a battle against time as her body was shutting down as well. An hour has past and Piper was almost in tears as every creepy Crawley and exhaustion along with the stench was becoming too much. She kept her eyes focused on the images but even they would fade on occasion as she came dangerously close to passing out. If the happened she would just sink into the mud and they would never find her.

"God help me," she said through cries as she pushed forward. Another hour to go if she keeps this pace but she had to stop and rest her head on the spear that was just above the mud to keep her neck from cramping to the point of not working. Every time she did the threat of going to sleep creeped on her like the insects that took advantage of her non-movement by crawling over her. She wished her sisters were yelling at her in the distance giving her strength but she knew they did not have it in them and were close to dying. She opened her eyes and lifted her head and continued while spitting out any of the mud out of her mouth to avoid getting sick. Finally she could see the tree line within reach and she used all her might to pick up the pace and felt solid land under her arms for the first time in two hours. She smiled weakly and then pulled her upper body onto it and just laid her head down on the ground. She needed to rest and did not care what crawl on or over her as she pulled up her shirt to put over her mouth to keep anything from entering. She was breathing hard and tries not to suck in any of the mud as her lower half was still encased. "Just a few minutes, I just need a few minutes," she thought and let her eyes close. She had no idea how long she was asleep, but the sound of something really close woke her up. It was still daylight and because of the heat was probably mid-day from what she could tell. Only the whites of her eyes could be seen as she stayed perfectly still while trying to figure out what was breathing just a few inches from her face. She needed to blink a few times to clear out the mud and then it came into focus. It was skin of a crocodile from what she could tell and its side was moving in and out. It was probably reducing its body temperature in the mud and now she was trapped. She believed that because she was so encased in mud it did not see her or get her sent. It did not look big but about the size that attacked her before. She remembered eating the tail and how much energy it gave them. It would be beyond risky as she could not see its head and any movement could make it strike. Its breaths were slow and maybe it was even sleeping as it rested. They become lethargic when cooling down and that could give her a chance. She slowly moves her left hand to her machete and looked for any movement from it as she controlled her breathing. It would either need to be quick or silent as she pulled it out but it did not move as she got the machete out in front of her. She moved the spear to her side making sure not to touch it in any way and it would give her a second line of defense if it decided to snap its head sideways which was there more powerful attack. She moved the pointed in close to its side and hoped it would be enough if it felt the sharp stab to make it stop. She tried to get a look at its head and finally after what seemed like forever she could tell its eyes were closed. She rose up slowly using the solid ground to give her leverage and rose up the machete over her head with both hands as its eyes opened and it was now or never. She brought the machete down right behind its head severing its spinal as it opened its mouth wide to reveal its sharp and hungry teeth but the minute it started to snap its head to the side the spear did its work and made it stop as Piper with a battle cry brought down the machete and killed it instantly. It still moved as part of the normal body's reaction and she gave her machete a twist to make it final. It was only about 3 1/2 feet long but if it would have got hold of her, it could have ripped off her arm or drowned her in the mud. Piper's heart was pounding but she has never felt more alive than now as she pulled out the machete and climbed out of the mud and onto solid land. Her lower part was quite wet as her upper part was dry mud that covered everything but her eyes that were burning with new purpose. She knew that she only had a short time before the meat would go bad, so she needed to work fast. She gathered the material needed to make the fire and pulled out the flint she brought with her. Once the fire was started she used leafs to clean herself off as best she could before preparing the meat. It needed to be gutted and she would mostly use the tail as it contained all the protein and vitamins they needed. Next was water and she found some water vines and one was thick and filled the canteen quickly. She also made sure to rehydrate herself before eating anything. After another two hours of forging a preparing the food she needed a way to bring it across. They also needed firewood as she knew they were going to be on that little island until they got enough energy to cross the other side. She gathered some wood and made a small sled and uses vines so she could wrap it around her as she pulled it behind her. She did not only find water but some fruit and even a termite nest that would help Prue's feet. There was a plant that would help with nausea and food poisoning as well. It was the mother load for her and she had a new found energy as she got everything she needed. She wrapped up the cooked meat and some that was ok not to cook for at least 5 to 6 hours mostly because it was the fat and wrapped it in the small amount of bag she brought. Next she made the sled to carry everything on and hoped it would slide easily on the mud. A pile of wood that might get them through the night along with some starter to help get it going in case it went out. She used leafs to cover it all up and keep it as dry as possible as she wrapped the vine under her arm and the other part over her shoulder. She took a deep breath and grabbed the spear to help her get a crossed once more. "Just two hours and then you can rest," she said and went on all fours to cross the hell again.

To be continued…