Hay guys! I'm worried that Elinana is a Mary Sue character (I actually found and took a test, and it said that she is). So I'm going to make her a little nerdier, and a little clumsy at times of high emotion (primarily when she is shy, and nervures. And sometimes get names wrong.) And I'll try to not fallow her so much—try being the word. Feedback is very much appreciated! And I'm sorry for any grammar errors. I'm totally embraced about fist chapters, and how it all stared, to be frank. But on the bright side, one day it'll be fixed up! And this chapter has a bit of a surprise for you all, and a small hint to the key of how she can time travel.
Enjoy!
Warning!: language, mild adult thing related word.
"Alright Lass," Edward sighed, and handed Elinana the elegant Dueling pistol that he just lauded. "This time try to hit your target."
"What is it do you think I've been doing?" Elinana retorted, rubbing one of her ears that rang from being in close proximity to gunfire. "Singing Kumbayah with that tree?" She gestured to the marked plum tree across the bright, hot beach.
"Get on with it already!" he retorted, not hiding his annoyance, and crossed his arms as Elinana took aim. She tried to relax her form, and kept her breathing easy. After a moment Edward sighed, and quickly drew his own Flintlock and fired at the marked tree, dead center. "It's as easy as that, lass."
She slightly winced to the sudden thunder of Edwards Flintlock, and rubbed her left ear on her shoulder. "Yes, well I've only had little to none experience with long rang weaponry. So forgive me if I don't get it, right off of the bat!" she growled, and fired. The bullet flew past the tree, and hit the raged stone wall among the other bullet marks.
Huffing in frustration, she shook her head. "Well, I've had enough for one day!" she announced, lauder then necessary.
"There is no need t' a shout," he almost growling.
"I'm not pouting!" she retorted.
"Shout!" he corrected her. "There is no need— ah, never mind! Go and bother Doc, why don't ye?" Edward marched away, leaving Elinana testing her ringing, sore, ears.
The blistering heat of the Caribbean beat down on Elinana as she brushed Hercules with a wad of hay. The hoarse snorted, and shook his head and neck. "I know," she whipped her forehead that was beading with sweat, and then rubbed it off on her dark gray trousers. "I'm melting as well." Pausing mid stroke, she sniffed her armpit. "Pee-yew, I'm going to have to take a bath…or two!"
"I think there might be a spring in the jungle." Informed a musical voice behind her, which made her jump and quickly turn-around to face the owner of the voice. Hand on the hilt of her knife, she sighed and relaxed to the sight of Eric. "You really need to know not to sneak up on me," she turned back to her work with Hercules. "I could have hurt you."
"Shore ye would," he smirked. "Well, it so happens that I'm in need of a certain plant, would ye accompany me? Ye still are under my wing, ye know."
Elinana thought for a short minute, and then replied: "Why not?" She let the wad fall from her hand, and marched to the saddlebags that were slung over a rickety plain fence. Heaving the bags full of her secrets on her shoulder, she marched back, and slung the burden onto Hercules's back.
"It could be fun, and I could get away from the pirates—no offence!" she stated over her shoulder as she rummaged through one of the saddlebags.
"None taken." He replied.
Elinana turned to him as she stuffed cloths into a satchel, also from the saddlebags. "Alright-y, lead the way!" she smiled, which was returned to her. She fallowed him up the grassy hill to a dirt path that lead up to the green, teeming jungle. The reaching branches of plums, and other tropical trees, shaded them. Exotic bird songs echoed through the branches. The deeper they went, the denser the undergrowth became.
"So," Elinana softly spoke out, not entirely wanting to disturb the natural peace around her. "What are we looking for?"
"A leafy plant," he replied over his shoulder. "I'll point it out to you, and then ye can find more of it on your own." He ducked under a leaning plum tree, and she fallowed his suit. The jungle opened, and before her were old, rundown huts. And at the center of the aria, a large tree reached high to the bright, pale blue sky. She noticed a platform that ringed around the truck some distance up, and a rickety platform to the right; standing against a towering, nearly flat, rock face.
Eyes wide with awe, Elinana approached the base of the gigantic tree. She gingerly ran her hand against the rough bark as she walked around to the other side. "I've only ever se-heard of trees as big as this from stories!" she slightly stumbled near something that would have lead to questions. And they were the sort of questions she didn't want to answer.
Eric smiled at her as he led the way around a hut, hiding the twinge of curiosity to what she was going to say, but dismissed it. The path led them through a bit of water and deeper into the singing jungle, then the path bended up a hill compelling the two to climb on the mass covered rocks.
After a short while, Elinana's after storm gray, eyes widened again. Smiling, she sprinted ahead, and halted near the edge of a high cliff. She gazed out over the gold lit jungle below, and the towering green mountain to the left. "This is amazing!" she breathed, as Eric approached her side.
"Aye," he replied. "But there is still more t' a see, my bonnie lass." He turned to a rope, and wood bridge that had collapsed at some point in time.
"My pardon?" she asked.
"Oh, Bonnie means pretty, and I believe you already know what Lass means." He explained, eyeing the gap with fists on his hips. "We'll have t' a jump for it."
"Good," she smirked. "It's been too long since I climbed around like a monkey!"
"Well, let me go first to test it's strange, alright?"
"Fine, go on." She replied, almost pouting.
He turned to the edge of the cliff, took a step back, and then darted forward. He flew over the gape, and met the other half of the bridge with a thud. Clambering up, he heaved himself onto the edge, and inched away. "Alright," Eric called over as he rise to his feet. "Come on over, it seems safe enough."
She fallowed his suit, and he helped her up. He slapped her shoulder, and then led the way up the dirt path. As she fallowed, she noticed the growing hiss of falling water. Climbing up the path, the sight of four waterfalls greeted her eyes. She fallowed Eric over a log bound bridge, to a pedestal like rock island. Approaching the far end, she looked down to the water that vanished into the jungle below. Through the branches below, she saw a bit of crystal blue. "This just gets better and better!" she smiled.
Eric closed his eyes, and breathed in the damp, humid air, perfumed with the exotic flora. This is where he felt at pace; way from the noise of his fellow men, and to feel the gentle kiss of the wind. "Come on," he broke out of his spell. "The plant is not far, nor is that last surprise!" he touched the tip of Elinana's chine, and then strolled to another broken rope and wood bridge.
Deeper and deeper into the jungle Elinana fallowed her companion; all the while sweat grew on her forehead, among other placed of her body. "I hope that spring you mentioned is a cool one," she stated. "Because I'm sweating like a sinner in church!"
Bending under a fallen tree, they came upon a wider aria. Still fallowing her companion, he led the way up a grassy mound, with low hanging, thick vines. "Ah!" he exclaimed, and dashed to a small bush. "Here we are!" he plucked a green teardrop like leaf and handed it to her. "Pepper Elder, it helps a great deal if you are ill, and!" he plucked more, and then started nibbling on the stem of one. "You can eat the stem, and leaf without bothering about cooking them. But the stem is the sweetest part."
She examined it, and then nibbled at the stem. It crunched under her teeth, and sweet juice met the tip of her tongue. "Not bad." She informed.
Eric smiled, knelt down and showed her what parts where useful, and how to store it. He reached to pull one last handful, but his hand also grabbed something else. Jerking upward, he gave a small yell that was more of a growl. "Cac!" he cursed. Quickly releasing the handful, he turned his hand to examine it.
"Eric?" Elinana's voice was pitched with concern.
Along his palm ran a shallow cut, with needle like thorns dug into his hand. He cursed again as crimson liquid oozed from the wound. "We should get that cleaned." Elinana stated, and tugged him to his feet, then tugged him to a stream that fell from a twenty foot high stone wall. As they walked to it, Eric handed her his satchel. "I guess this would be a good time for another lesson." He creaked a smile. "I suppose so."
As she worked to help clean his hand, she slowly began to feel weak, and a ringing slowly grew in her ears. "Elin," Eric's voice was filled with concern. "You look pale as a sheet! Does the sight of blood bother ye?" he asked, but his voice barely registered to her ears. She slumped against the stone wall, gazing at the water that shimmered white and blue. Elinana shook her head, but she still seemed to have slipped into her Eagle Sense. Unable to acknowledge Eric, she reached out with a feeble hand to cup the shimmering water. With a quivering hand she saw glowing blue sand like specks. The world around her grew bright, and the only thing through the ringing was these words: "There is something in the water."
"Elin!" a far of voice called, but she fell into the bright nothing.
"Des," Desmond looked up to Rick that sat on the other side of the bar. "Still bothered by Rosemary's reading?"
Desmond sighed, and nodded. "Yea," he refilled a peanut dish and placed it on the other end of the bar. "Are all her readings crazy?"
"Well," Rick mused while itching his scalp. "It all depends on the person."
"That's comforting." Desmond retorted with sarcasm, resaving a chuckle from Rick as he raised the green bottle of alcohol to his lips.
"Mr. Hess!" Sara angrily stomped by Desmond and Rick. "You know the rules, until you are twenty-one, you are not allowed in here!"
"Oh come on, I am!" complained the young man.
"Don't give me that shit Troy, hit the road!" she gestured to the door.
"Is this anyway to treat a customer?"
"Hay punk," Desmond approached Sara's side. "You heard the woman, underage means no boos, kid."
"Who's the stiff?"
"The stiff that is seriously, considering throwing you out on your ass."
"Alright you three," Rick stepped in, tapping Desmond on the shoulder. "Let's all simmer down now…Troy," he eyed the young man. "You know the law, right?"
"Don't talk down to me, or do I have to inform my Father?" Troy threatened.
"Sinuously?" Desmond chuckled. "You're pulling the 'Father' card?"
"You don't know?" Sara asked him. "His father is the Mare, which seems to register in the kids mind that he can do what ever the hell he wants." Desmond gave her a 'for real?' look, and she just nodded.
"So, if you all know what is best for you—" Troy began. "Kid," interrupted Desmond. "The more you talk the more retorted you sound." He strolled up to Troy, and began dragging him to the door as if he was taking out the garbing.
"Let me go, you stupid stiff!" Troy barked, and tried to fight Desmond but he dogged every swing, and then let him go after a little distinct from the Bar. "Get on home kid if you know what is good for you." Desmond threw Troy's own words back at him, and then turned away and saw Rick and Sara standing in the door of the Bar.
"You're the dude?" Troy called after him. "The dude shacking up with Rick, and the one that can communicate with a runaway whore?"
Desmond halted, and gritted his teeth. "Shut-up kid, just shut-up." he looked up to the sound of heavy footsteps, and saw Rick glaring past him with murder in his eyes. "You little shit!" Rick growled.
Desmond quickly stepped in-between the two. "Rick," he placed his hands on the firm man's upper chest.
"Get out of my way," he growled in a way that actually scarred Desmond. "Get out the way so I can teach the prick a lesson!"
"He's just a prick like you said. Let it go."
"Let it go?" he turned his fierce, forest green eyes to Desmond. "Didn't you just hear what he called my baby girl?"
"Yes," he replied, and sidestepped when Rick moved to the right. "Despite wanting to see his ass getting handed to him; is this what your girls would want?"
Rick looked at him as if he would punch him right then and there. But then sorrow filled his brad fetchers. "No," he murmured. "No they would not." he turned away, and almost practically shuffled his feet as he went to talk to Sara.
"So much drama for one girl." the words of Troy reached Desmond's ears.
"Alright," Desmond thought. "That's it!" In just a mater of seconds, he turned to the boy, and collided his fist to the jaw of the boy.
"Ahh!" Troy stumbled back, hand to his red jaw.
"Now you might think twice before opening your mouth." Desmond said, and then turned to the smiling faces of Sara and Rick. "Your girls aren't mine," he informed the two. "I can do what the fuck I want."
"I'm liking you more with every day!" she laughed.
Later that evening
After a long night of working at the 40 Below-Zero, Desmond flapped backwards on the basement sofa, and melted into the cushions. And soon he fell into the realm of dreams.
Wind kissed his face, and the steady rhyme of waves riding onto a beach, touched is ears. Slowly opening his eyes, he looked up to the dancing plums above him. Wandering where he was, he sat up and looked about the tropical beach. "How did I get here?" he thought, getting to his feet. "Last thing I remember was going—I'm dreaming." He chucked to himself.
Looking about the green jungle, and the moss and poop covered rocks; he strolled down the beach. "If only I had more dreams like this." he sighed, enjoying the peace. His pace slowed when he saw a shape lying on the sand. Kicking off at a sprint, the shape grew more familiar. "Ely!" he called to the still form of Elinana.
Bet you didn't see that coming! Any-who, sorry it took me so long to get this up, but schoolwork, and do not be surprised if I don't post another chapter till June. Why? Well, June 6 is when I graduate from high school! So I have to stay on top of my studies and not fall behind because no extensions. "It's the final Count Down!" So yea, just a fair warning.
Fun Fact! With the jungle bit, I actually jumped from writing to playing to game, back and forth, step by step.
Well see you next time! And don't worry she'll be fine…really!…