I've been losing quite a bit of steam on this. So far I have been trying to get chapters out roughly every week. With the school year starting up again my focus will be shifting. I wont be abandoning this to anyone who cares, there will just be more time between chapters.
Talwyn paced angrily.
"It's alright Miss Apogee, we'll find them." Zephyr said.
"How?!" She cried.
Cronk and Zephyr had finally arrived and managed to free her from the man-eating plant. She was relieved to finally see them, but when she discovered that neither of them had encountered Clank, that relief quickly died.
"Are you sure you didn't see him?" She pressed.
"No, he didn't send you anything? A distress signal, maybe?" Cronk asked.
"No, I already checked! I'm worried guys, what if something really bad happened?" Talwyn put a hand to her face.
This was all her fault. If she had just been paying more attention, she never would have gotten stuck. She should have told Clank to just wait here instead of trying to meet up with Cronk and Zephyr. How could she let him go on his own without even saying anything, without even thinking? Now both Ratchet and Clank were missing. Had he gotten lost and hurt? Had he been kidnapped by the Smuggler as well? Damn it all! Why did everyone she love disappear? First her father, now them. Now they were gone, hopelessly gone and lost. Damnnit! Damnnit!
The sudden hand on her shoulder jarred her out of her thoughts. She followed it up to Cronk. Zephyr joined, gently grabbing her hand, and massaging it lightly in his fingers.
"It's alright, just breathe." Zephyr instructed her.
She did as commanded, finally noticing the tears that had once again formed without her knowing, how her fists were balled so tight her fingers ached, and how her shoulders were nearly up to her ears. She took a shaky breath, gripping Cronk's hand, trying to loosen the tension in her body. Suddenly, she was transported back in time, to the first night she had cried over her father's disappearance. Everyone had said he had gone missing, but she always held out hope that he would one day return, walking through the front door and tell Talwyn all about the various exploits he'd encountered while away. That fateful night, she had a dream about him, not a nightmare, but a pleasant dream. It was of just that, Max Apogee returning home and showing her the various artifacts and treasures he had discovered on his latest adventure. So happy to see him again, to be with him, and hear his stories that when she awoke, she was instantly filled with utter despair. She had sat up in bed, unable to fall back asleep. So filled with heartache and grief, the tears had flowed from her like an endless faucet. She hadn't called for Cronk and Zephyr when they showed up at her door. They had probably heard her wailing through the wall. She had tried to keep quiet, but obviously wasn't quiet enough. They had sat on her bed comforting her. She didn't need to say anything, they just openly offered their unwavering support. They stayed with her the whole night long, rubbing her back, and holding her hand just like now. They had even spoken the same words to her.
"Just breathe."
She focused on her breath now, trying to steady it into an even rhythm. She let out a shuddering sigh. Wiping her eyes with her free hand, she gave Zephyr's hand a small, grateful squeeze. Everything would be alright. They would find them. Clank must be close by. There must be some clue to his disappearance. She just needed to think.
Talwyn's head snapped up suddenly, her eyes alight. Surprised by her sudden change in mood, the robots went to ask her what was wrong, but she shushed them quickly, glancing toward the dense brush. Getting down low, she jerked her hand, silently signaling them to follow. Each step she took was careful and deliberate. She couldn't mess up now. This could be her only chance. The sound of the wildlife grew louder as she approached. She seemed to be moving toward the source of a particular bird call. She was timing her steps with it to mask their sound. Cronk and Zephyr watched, as she suddenly paused at a bush. Slowly, Talwyn raised her hands. Then, quick like lightning, she struck, thrusting them into the bush. There was an especially loud and angry squawk, before it was abruptly cut off. Slowly, Talwyn brought back her hands, revealing her catch.
"It's that Smuggler's parrot!" Zephyr cried, pointing an indignant finger at the bright red bird trapped in Talwyn's grip. She had one hand wrapped around its scrawny body and the other wrapped around its beak. It thrashed wildly in her grasp, and gave muffled cries. She made sure to keep an extra tight grip on that beak, knowing it was what had caused Clank's disappearance in the first place.
"I ought to rip you feather from feather!" Cronk yelled, reaching for the thing. Talwyn quickly lifted the bird out of their way.
"Guys! This could be our only chance to find Ratchet and Clank." She said, before lowering it. The bird ceased its thrashing when it saw the murderous gaze in her eyes.
"Alright," she said deliberately, staring hard at the avian. "I'm going to remove my hand from your beak. When I do, I want you to tell me where the Smuggler is. Understood?"
The parrot nodded its head in her hand, making small affirmative noises. Slowly, Talwyn released her grip. As soon as she did, the parrot took a deep breath, before letting out the loudest and most horrendous screech it could. Before she could react, Cronk ripped the creature from Talwyn's grip.
"That's it! Either you start talking, or I'm making you into parrot pâté, you flying rat!"
Cronk squeezed harshly at the thing, causing the parrot to make an awful noise somewhere between a squawk and a choke. It's eyes bulged in his unforgiving grasp.
"Squaw! Alright, alright," It cried. "Three buildings down! Squaw! There's a wardrobe with a false back! Brawk!"
It indicated the direction with a jerk of it's head. Talwyn followed the bird's lead and turned to go.
"Right, let's get going." She declared, taking her blaster out of its holster. Zephyr quickly followed behind and the parrot gave a sigh of relief. That relief was short-lived as Cronk strengthened his grip again.
"You're coming with us, rat, and if you're lying, I promise I'll be true to my word." Cronk challenged dangerously. The parrot gave a nervous gulp, as Cronk made to catch up with the other two.
Chapter 12 image: i imgur com UBls8hZ png