Raining! Raining water! Fresh water! Oh gods, he had to get up and collect some, somehow. He reached around for his water bottle.
There was a bright flash of lightning, and he saw a rivulet pouring down at the back of the rock face. Wow, just how hard was it raining??? He got up and went over to where he had seen the water. When he found it he stuck his bottle in the stream and it was filled quickly. He took a big, big drink.
Of course he remembered...
He refilled the bottle, then carefully went over in the pitch black to Sylphiel. She was asleep, how odd. And she took a long time to wake up. She felt so cold. Fear began to settle in his heart, she was in bad shape. Still, he was able to wake her up, and get her to drink. She seemed to gain strength and vitality from taking in the water.
He got her water bottle and refilled both of them. He went back and got her to drink some more, but he was careful not to let her take too much at once. In her state she didn't need to get nauseated and start throwing up, that could be fatal. Eventually she was more or less hydrated, and they had full bottles again. Just in time too, as the storm was moving off, taking the water with it.
Now they could see the dawn was trying to happen behind the storm. Zel wrung out his cloak and wrapped it around Sylphiel. "It's wool" he explained. When she looked blank he added "Even wet, wool has some insulating properties. You feel like a block of ice." he added as he began to vigorously massage her legs and arms. He felt her injured foot, it was like the middle of winter. He held it between his hands to try and warm it. She gave a yelp as he moved it, but it was so cold it was actually numb to most pain. If she wasn't so cold, Sylphiel might have enjoyed the relief from the pain. As it was, she was definitely, and possibly dangerously, hypothermic. Getting soaked hadn't been good for her at all...
"If only we could build a fire." sighed Zel.
"W-why don't we ask Beastmaster? I'm sure she'd make one for us." said Sylphiel through chattering teeth. "Give us the place of honour even..."
"Well, no doubt about that." said Zel as he continued to rub and hold whatever he could to warm up his companion. He gave her a shake as she drifted off. "Don't sleep, Sylphiel, you might not wake up again." he warned.
The girl gave a moan. "I don't know if I can..." she said, quietly.
Zel knew real fear at that. He couldn't lose her, he just couldn't. "Okay, we have to get the wet stuff off of you." he said. With that he stripped off her coat and her blouse, leaving only her undergarments, and what was left of her pants, on. He then took his own top off and hugged her to him tightly. Skin to skin heat transfer was what he wanted. He rubbed her back vigorously. He just had to warm her.
After a time, she began to warm up and come around. The sun rose eventually, and things warmed up on the ledge, and began to dry out. Zel kept hugging her and rubbing her back. Eventually she roused more and he finally let her go and began to rub her arms and legs again. When she was finally warming up in the summer sun he was able to stop. He went and laid out their clothing as best he could to let it dry.
As he did so he gave Sylphiel a good hard appraisal. He didn't like what he saw, the girl was weak, very weak. He felt sure she wouldn't be able to walk today at all. He wondered if she was slowly bleeding inside somewhere. Okay, he'd have to carry her, that was all there was to that. But, how far could he make it? Well, as far as he had to, right? He just hoped he had the strength, this was taking a toll on him too. Well, they weren't moving until they had drier clothing, so there was some time to rest. Sylphiel had gone back to sleep, but he could tell by looking at her it was more of a restful sleep, not the hypothermic drifting away she had been doing earlier. He decided it was a good idea, so he even joined her in getting a nap.
It was later in the morning, and hotter out when he awoke again. Sylphiel was still asleep beside him. He felt like luxuriating in the warmth, but he was only too aware of the limits of their water, so he decided getting too hot while just sitting still was not an option, and he got up to get dressed as best he could.
After he was done, he roused Sylphiel and helped her get dressed, which was easier said than done. He was deeply worried now, this was not a natural exhaustion, even after all she had been through. Something was wrong, he could feel it, and if they didn't find a healer soon, it would be all over for her. Maybe he would have been kinder to have helped her take the plunge?
Outwardly, he remained silent for her sake, but inside, he roared in anger at himself for even thinking such thoughts. Right, they needed to get going and now. It was hard and it hurt her, but he scooped her up in his arms and set out down the path again. It was not easy, she was over balancing him again, and the ledge was narrow. There were times he had to staned there and gasp, and times he had to use willpower he didn't realise that he had to avoid dropping her. But there were always just enough spots that were a bit wider and he could go down on a knee and rest. Sylphiel would come awake, and beg him to stop, then she'd drift off again.
Zel climbed down for a long time, moving a bit, then resting, then moving, and resting some more. Somewhere along the way he moved Sylphiel from his arms to his shoulders, which was a bit easier, but it was still hard to move. He knew he needed a break, but the path wouldn't give him one. Still, they were now within two or three hundred feet of the bottom, which was gladdening, but, he had another worry now. They had come most of the way around the side of the mountain. At this rate, when they reached the bottom they would be by the main gate. and that would likely be warded or even guarded. They would have climbed all the way down just to present themselves at Beastmaster's front door. Well, he'd have to think of what to do when he got there.
He did find a wider spot and was able to sit and look out. Sylphiel slept beside him. He did get her to rouse and drink, and he drunk too. He was starving but he had to put all thoughts of that out of his mind, all his food was in his cape, and magically sealled away from him. He rested a long time on the side of the cliff. He could see that the island was densely wooded for the most part, but off in the middle distance was a big pond. He saw no river or stream flowing into it, but he did see a small one flowing out. It might have been a spring fed pond. Right, if he could get down, he'd make for it, it should be full of good, fresh water. But it was likely the local watering hole for the wolves that the island was named after, he'd have to be careful.
Finally, he forced himself up, picked Sylphiel up, and carried on. He grew more worried about the gate as they were down to about the hundred foot mark. Then the whole question became academic when the path ended...
"Now what?" he asked himself, with a sinking feeling in his stomach. He looked around, feeling panicy for a minute, then he got hold of himself. What ever the problem, panic would only make it worse. He took a good look around, and eventually realised that the damage was different here. Instead of shearing the path off something had flaked it away. Indeed, there was something that reminded him of, well, of gravel, to this part of the cliff face. He wasn't sure what kind of an attack had done this, but he could see why the path had ended, it had flaked to pieces instead of just breaking off chunks like the rest of the path seemed to have done.
Then he looked down.
"Sylphiel! Sylphiel!" he said in a desperate whisper. It took time but he roused her.
"Huh?" she asked, groggily.
"We are in a bind, there is a way out, but it's going to be tricky." said Zel.
This seemed to wake Sylphiel up some more, so he was able to explain. "Look, the path has ended and there is no way to walk down any more."
"So, we jump after all..." she said.
"Yes, but that's the point!" Zel went on, excitedly. "It's a long shot, but something blasted this part of the mountain into gravel, not sharp slabs with pointy bits on it, and there is a steep, but passable slope of gravel not thirty feet below us."
Sylphiel looked. "Th-that's a big drop..." she said timidly.
"For you, yes, but I think I can bear it." said Zel. "If I can jump right, and land right, I can take the impact while I hold you safe, and then we can get down. We are only about a hundred feet from the base of the mountain."
Sylphiel took a minute to ponder this in her groggy way. then she turned to Zelgadiss and said "I trust you."
Zel was silent for a few seconds. Somehow that wasn't the response he had expected, but actually, it was better. "I will prove worthy of that trust." he promised.
After giving it a bit more thought, he managed to sit down and arrange for Sylphiel to be on his lap. He then took her in his arms and asked "Are you ready?"
She gave him another kiss on the cheek. "It was lucky last time." she said with a smile.
Zel smiled back. "Here we go..." he warned. He carefully slid forward...
The plunge was brief, thirty feet took maybe a second to fall. He hugged her tight. She gave a squeal, but surpressed her scream. Then the gravel. As he feared the impact tried to throw him backward, and his decision to fall with his back against the cliff saved them as he rammed against it, keeping them upright. He landed on his butt, then on his back, and proceeded to slide many feet down the gravel, cutting his clothes, and even himself in the process. That was new...
Finally they skidded to a stop. the last lurch toppling him around on top of Sylphiel. she gave a gasp of shock, then things settled as they just lay there, face to face. for a long time they just lay there, looking at each other, listening to the last of the rocks fall, hoping that neither an avalance, nor a curious guard showed up. Finally Zel managed to smile, and he quipped "We have to stop meeting like this...".
Sylphiel just stared at him for a space of time, then suddenly kissed him fully on the lips and quietly said "Thank you."
And people thought chimeras couldn't blush...
Zel got up, carefully, and after a couple of painful tried he got Sylphiel up onto his back. He had a few close calls, but he actually managed to make it all the way down without dropping her, or falling over.
And then...
As he stepped away from the gravel and onto green grass at the edge of the trees he whispered excitedly to Sylphiel "We're down, Sylphiel, we've made it down!"
It was only then that he realised that she had drifted out of conciousness again.
"Damn! Damn! I have got to get her off this island." he said, fear again returning to his heart. She was sick, very sick, and he could do nothing. How to get her away from here? How? Well, no choice, was there, he had to head to the water.
Water.
Right, the pond, they needed more fresh water. Like it or not, Zel had to go to the pond, then to the sea.
Well, no time like the present, who wanted to live forever? He took Sylphiel onto his back once more and staggered off in the direction he had seen the water. His hope was to get the water while the sun was up, then head off and be under cover by dark. He had seen nothing the previous nights he had spent on the island, but he did recall there had been some wierd noises, and he didn't relish the thought of meeting whatever it was that had caused them. With that, he stepped into the forest, Sylphiel on his back.
He didn't know it, but what he was doing looked vaguely reminiscent of the time Sylphiel had carried Lina on her back into the caves beneath Sairaag when she was injured to the point of death during the battle against Copi Rezo. but this time there would be no magic healing on the edge of the pool...
Zel stumbled on. He grit his teeth and ignored his own pain, he would not let Sylphiel down. But he could feel the weakness growing in him too. He pondered in his mind the best course of action, to try and escape during the night, or to try to rest and wait until morning. rest would give him strength, and light, but it would give light to his enemies. And who knew how much delay Sylphiel could stand?
He was lucky, the island was small and the pond was close. As the evening turned to the start of dusk he came upon the pond. It was empty, no wolves or other animals were to be seen. He carefully tasted the water and determined it not to be poisoned or dirty and drank. After a few minutes with no immediate reaction he decided it ws safe. He managed to get Sylphiel to drink too, though all she wanted now was sleep. He gave her a quick look over and was relieved to find that her left ankle and foot, though swollen, had good circulation. Her ribs seemed stable, the fractured ends hadn't moved. That was even better. but her poor little finger was cold and turning black. It was truely dead now, and no healer had the magic to bring it back.
Then he looked into her half open eyes. His own eyes stung with tears as he realised her pupils were different sizes. That was why she was sleepy, she had hurt her brain somehow, and needed immediate care. And he wasn't able to give it to her. The only good thing was that it was the type of injury that took time to show up, if Sylphiel had passed out from the injury right after the fall she'd be long dead by now. He hugged her close and whispered into her ear "Hold on, Sylphiel, by all you hold dear, hold on. I will get you out of this. I will get you help. Just hold on. We can't lose you, you are our friend. I..."
He paused for a moment, then decided to say it. "I can't lose you, Sylphiel, you've become more than a friend to me..."
He was silent for awhile, there was nothing more to say.
He took a deep breath. His next course of action was decided. He looked around and got his bearings. If he kept the mountain behind him, then he'd be pointed at the sea. Once more he picked up Sylphiel. He knew he'd make it, as long as the wolves didn't come. He started hearing strange noises everywhere. He wasn't sure what was real and what was exaggerated imagination. He was aware he was running on nerves as much as anything now. He had been brave for Sylphiel, but now that she was passed out and possibly in a life threatening situation, he found his false front of courage evaporating. He was scared after all. Good old human fear. And yet, somehow, he wasn't entirely unhappy to have it, it did make him feel human. He knew that Sylphiel was right, he was a human inside, despite the chimera flesh. He knew it was something he needed to feel more of. He was slowly choking himself inside with his mask of moody angst and silent toughness. It also amazed him to no end that he would think thoughts like this, now, in the middle of sneaking through the woods in a life or death situation.
"wow, am I screwed up, or what?" he asked himself.
Then, he was there, with the light now fading, he had reached the shore of the sea. Now to figure out how to leave...
That was harder than it seemed at first. It was a good five miles or more to the farther shore, a hard enough swim for people in good shape, which neither of them were. Furthermore, with no light he couldn't be sure of the direction. There'd be a moon later in the night, but it wasn't up yet. What to do?
Well, the first thing to do would be not to stay out in the open by the shore here. He gently dragged Sylphiel back to the trees and hoped that they would give some protection. He hugged her, trying to keep her warm, and thought hard about how to escape.
He awoke with a start! He had been sleeping? Oh no! But oh yes, there was the moon riding into the sky, casting pale but welcome light on the surroundings. He hadn't even realised he was drifting off. But after the initial shock of it all, he realised just how tired he had been. He actually felt refreshed now, his little nap had given him a bit more strength. But it hadn't brought him any closer to a solution. And Sylphiel was still unconcious in his arms. "Right," he said to himself, taking a deep drink from the water bottle, "it's now or never Zel, get to work."
He gently let Sylphiel sink to the ground then got up. He started looking around. He didn't know what he was looking for, but he needed to see what was around, maybe he'd stumble upon a plan.
A short time later, he did just that. He stumbled upon a plan. Well, actually, he stumbled over a fallen tree limb and went down with a crash. he got up feeling angry and annoyed, and a bit silly for not paying better attention. He gave the limb a kick, and it moved. He realised he could lift it, and had a flash of desire to throw it away. suddenly, as if a vision were granted to him, he thought of throwing it into the sea. Yes, and if he did that, it would float...
Now he knew how to get away. He couldn't swim all the way, but maybe he could float! And Sylphiel could float beside him! He examined the log more carefully, it seemed big enough. It was a dead limb, he could feel the quality of the wood, but, for what he needed it should do. Yes, this might just work. He grasped the log, and after a bit of a strain lifted it up. It was heavy, but he got it out of the dent in the ground it was lying in, and after that he was able to half lift, half drag it to the shore. It floated! Now, how to do the rest of this? Sylphiel couldn't hang on, but there was a bit of a branch coming off the limb, if he balanced things carefully, he could...
What?
He sighed and though a bit more. As he did he patted himself to see if there was any inspiration to be had, and he found the pant leg ropes he had made, oh, an eternity ago, when he wanted to carry her along the cliff. Okay, it wasn't good, but she was unconcious now and couldn't hold on. He would have to tie her to the log and float the lot of them out off the island. Then...
Then?
Moon or not, he didn't know which way to go. What to...
Something howled a short distance away!
What to do? Get off the island and worry about it later, that's what to do!
He dashed back, grabbed up Sylphiel, and took her to the water. In short order he had her floating on the tree limb, and had her secured as best he could. He was amazed the water felt warm, the volcano that had formed the island might be extinct, but the fire was still active somewhere down below...
He pushed off and paddled out into the blackness. Good thing too, for not fifteen minutes later an excited pack of wolves was sniffing away at the beach, and looking out into the dark water. They weren't sure what they were smelling, but it obviously had left the island. After some more excited but fruitless sniffing they took off to tell the head wolf what they'd found.
Zel swam on. The warm water held and he was able to maintain a steady pace. He desperately wished Sylphiel would wake up. He also wished he knew which direction the shore was, if he was going the wrong way they'd be heading out into the ocean...
After a time he realised the water was cooling. So, there was a limit to where the earth fire reached. Hmmm. But that meant they'd start to chill. But he couldn't go back either, no, he would have to go on, and see what he could do.
After a bit, as he was definitely getting cold, he also started to notice a tingling over his body. He didn't understand it, but it felt familiar. He hoped it wasn't some attack being aimed at them. but it didn't feel like an attack. He swam on, pushing Sylphiel on the limb with him, moving farther away from the island. In the moonlight he could see they were now over a mile out from their former prison. The tingling was stronger now, and suddenly he knew what it was, and laughed out loud. It was nothing more, or less, serious than his magic power coming back! Of course! he had swum out of the perimmiter of the spell that had surpressed their magic when they flew into it all those days ago! All? wait, how many had it been? He thought he counted four days now, but he was so mixed up from all the struggling he had just gone through he wasn't sure. Well, it didn't matter, he'd get it later.
He swam on, letting the water get colder, until he felt his magic was back. Now he knew how to save Sylphiel. He stopped swimming and rested for a minute, then he untied her and took her in his arms. He concentrated and chanted the spell. It had to work.
"Levitation." he commanded, and to his utter joy, THEY FLEW!!!
Zel quickly had them up a hundred or sofeet in the air. this was great! His magic was more sure than the cliff ledge had been. He smiled, they had done it, they had bested Beastmaster in this atleast, by escaping her island!
Something made him look down. A finned shape suddenly appeared and crunched the tree limb with a mouthfull of wicked teeth. He gasped, their close call had been closer than he realised. And they were still in the air, not at a healers, they weren't really out of it yet. There might be birds after all...
Zel began a slow flight, circling the island and gaining altitude until he finally saw what he desperately sought, a dark line on the horizon that was the far shore. He turned to it and willed his magic to take them forward.