X Chapter 5 X
A/N: Sorry for the wait, I needed a break because I felt that my writing was getting sloppy. Hopefully this chapter is an improvement. It's a long one. It needed to be because I'm planning to do a time skip at the beginning of the next chapter and there were plenty of loose ends to tie up. The story as a whole might seem slow paced and hard to follow; but don't worry! The action will start to pick up as time goes on. I do plan on having these characters meet more OG characters as well, so stay tuned for that.
Warning: Language, graphic depictions of death
The days passed. It could have been weeks; no one was keeping count. The children ate strange purple frogs every night. Most went to bed hungry, but sustained. Their saiyan appetites demanded more, and every night they prayed to find another croc-monster like the one that satisfied their bellies that first time. But each day when Ginge, Iseber, and Pinach went hunting by the river, there had been no sign of any more croc-monsters or any other large game.
The cold nights were getting a little worse, night by night. One night, the first instance of precipitation since their arrival happened. It fell to the ground as freezing rain, which left a thin layer of ice over everything. When the sun rose that morning, it thawed the landscape and dissipated mist.
Ginge awoke to the brilliant sunlight shining through a window. Yawning and stretching, she carefully maneuvered around the sleeping pod-lings. Putting on her armor plates and boots, she walked outside and marveled at the brilliant sunrise. It was a beautiful sight to behold, but it left an ache in her heart. The sun looked a little too much like Freeza's attack that destroyed Planet Vegeta.
Shaking off the memories, she stepped out of her home made of clay and went to wake Iseber and Pinach. If the pack was to eat that night, they would need to begin hunting bright and early. Ginge would have woken Tercres as well, but he had been missing every morning for the past three days. No one knew where he went, but he would return each night to claim a piece of the hunt. Ginge's mind was torn on the issue. On one hand: he wasn't pulling his weight. On the other: not having him around meant unfathomably less stress for everyone.
She stepped into the dwelling among a dozen that they had been staying in. Upon entering the bedroom, she noticed that their beds were empty, blankets a mess. Oh great. What the hell are they up to now? I'm gonna pop a vein if they went out alone again... Slipping out quietly to not wake their bunkmates, she took off into the sky. Scanning the camp and then the horizon, she saw nothing at first. Out of the corner of her eye, a glimmering blue light shone from the sprawling fields. Ginge took off towards it.
Pinach punched Iseber in the gut, causing him to spit. Iseber countered with a kick to Pinach's chin, sending him back flipping away. Pinach came to a stop, and they both stood off in battle stances. He taunted Iseber. "You've definitely gotten faster, but your hitting power hasn't changed much. I barely felt that!" Iseber growled. "Yeah, well I bet I can create a stronger energy wave!" Pinach snorted. "What was your signature called again? The Final Spirit Cannon? Didn't you steal that from somebody?"
Iseber stamped his foot and huffed. "I didn't steal it, I borrowed it! There's a difference!" Pinach chuckled and wiped his nose. "There's definitely a difference in your attack from theirs! Yours is more like a pistol than a cannon!" Iseber fumed, turning very red; he charged white ki in his right hand. "Bardock is the greatest saiyan to have ever lived! It's why I watched him train! Learning his signature is my tribute to him!"
Pinach became distracted when he heard Bardock's name. Where have I heard that name?... Wasn't he- There was no time to finish the thought. Iseber had finished gathering energy for his attack, aiming his right hand and holding his arm. Pinach stretched his arms out, opening his hands. Lightning bolts snaked around his arms and hands as blue energy orbs formed in his palms. He cupped his hands together, arms outstretched in front of him. The boys smirked at each other. "I hope this Bardock's attack is as powerful as you say it is! Otherwise, you're gonna have more than a few scrapes and cuts when I unleash my power!"
Iseber fired. Pinach did as well. The beams tore up the ground as they travelled. Pinach's was a vibrant blue; Iseber's was a blinding white. When they clashed, a huge energy ball formed at the center. It flickered blue, then white, then blue again as the boys struggled. The wind from the clash was tempestuous. It blew the tall, teal grass flat for many acres.
As Ginge flew towards the shimmering light, it suddenly magnified and blinded her. Not more than a few seconds later, a great wind came and knocked her from the sky. Falling, she hit the ground hard, landing in a ditch. The wind continued to blow, as if a terrible storm was about; it kicked up dirt and grass. Crawling up the side of the ditch, she finally got a view of what was causing it. Ginge looked on with awe at Pinach's and Iseber's beam clash.
The energy ball created by the clash kept growing larger. The wind was getting stronger. Soon, Ginge had trouble even keeping her eyes open to watch, it was so intense. A concern entered her mind. She looked back at the camp which was only a thousand feet away. The firewood pile in the middle of the camp blew far away into the sky. Shit! Those dumbasses are gonna wreck the houses!
Standing up, she powered through the wind and began shouting. "Stop! You guys have to stop! You're gonna wreck the camp!" They didn't hear her. The intensity of the clash was too loud. Ginge got closer, almost a stone's throw away. Finally, Pinach heard her shouting… only he didn't hear the contents of her speech. He thought she was cheering him on! Pinach turned back to the clash. There was no way he was going to lose with Ginge watching.
Ginge's eye twitched as she saw Pinach ignore her and begin pumping more energy into the struggle. That little weasel! How dare he ignore me?! Can't those idiots see what's gonna happen if this keeps up?! The energy ball expanded even more. It was now as wide as the distance Pinach and Iseber stood apart. Their hands were now enveloped in the ball. The boys were sweating, eyes focused on the struggle. Their teeth clenched and they grunted and groaned with each effort.
Ginge caught a stone flung at her by the wind. Infusing it with energy, she chucked it as hard as she could at Pinach's head. The stone connected, knocking his head to the side. He turned to her. Finally, he could see that she wasn't cheering for him. She was mad! Her fangs were bared and her tail was sticking straight out, bristling. Pinach gulped and looked at the massive energy ball which was beginning to warp and wobble.
The clash was becoming unstable. Ginge noticed this and became saucer eyed. Holy shit. The blast ripped through the plains. Any grass within a few hundred feet was instantly incinerated. The shockwave spread out for miles. Back at camp, the children were all outside looking at the bright light coming from over the horizon. The shockwave hit, blowing the children away several feet. The houses survived for the most part except the windows facing the blast which shattered. The pod-lings inside Ginge's house began crying. Tercres, who was out on his own somewhere in the fields, saw a blinding light over the horizon accompanied by great winds and a mushroom cloud.
When the dust settled, Ginge stood at the edge of a giant crater. Her arms were crossed in front of her face, and she was breathing heavily. Her armor was torn to shreds. Rips all down her leggings. Cracks in her armor plates. Her sleeves were completely ripped away, her slender forearms bared. Looking back at the camp, to Ginge's relief, she saw that the houses were still standing. This feeling of relief slipped away, hot rage taking its place when she turned back to the crater.
Pinach sat up. A hefty layer of dust covered him as he laid. It was everywhere. In his armor, his ears, and his... yeah. The boy tapped his head, knocking it out of his ears. He called out to Iseber, taunting him. "I told you that Bardock's attack was trash! You should try coming up with your o-" Pinach noticed a shadow over him. He turned around to find a saiyan girl, about ten or eleven years old, standing behind him. The girl looked like she had been in a warzone, armor in shambles. She was breathing hard and fast through her nose like a wildebeest. The scowl on her face transformed into bared fangs as she stooped down. Pinach blushed and chuckled fearfully.
Iseber awoke to Pinach's screams. It didn't take him long to figure out what was going down. He took off into the fields, not flying but running. He got pretty far, about a mile before seeing a ki blast shoot past him. Iseber turned to look. Ginge was hot on his rear, grunting as she ran. A wild look in her eyes. He faced forward and took off flying. Shit shit shit shit shit.
Soon, the swamp came into view. He stopped at it's edge, looking back to find Ginge flying after him. He looked at the swamp and gulped; it was as calm and creepy as ever. Which one? Mysterious swamp with giant snakes and creepy stone pyramids... or Ginge. He turned back to Ginge. She was seconds away and screaming incoherent nonsense. Swamp it is. Best of luck, Pinach. Iseber leapt into the swamp, running through the red vines and leaves.
Ginge came to a stop when she reached the swamp's edge. I'm gonna kill that little shit-stain when I get my hands on him! He thinks he can hide from me in there?! We'll see about that! She gathered up as much energy as she could muster in one hand. Raising it at the swamp, Ginge unleashed a monstrous energy wave. The explosion was about as large as the one created by Pinach and Iseber's clash. It leveled the trees for miles around in front of her. Any water evaporated into a gargantuan steam cloud.
When the steam and dust floated away, what she saw both amazed and frightened her. Giant stones with geometric carvings lay before her. They surrounded a half-buried pyramid; it's tip poked above the ground, while the body remained covered except for one side. A man sized hole occupied one side of the tip. The stones seemed to sing, calling out to her. She started towards them, but shook the feeling off. What the hell is this place? Those carvings... couldn't have been made naturally. Someone has been here. Maybe they still are...
After admiring the view for a few minutes, Ginge noticed something odd. The swamp was spreading back to its original state before the blast. Trees grew from twisting vines. Water seemed to seep through the mud, filling in the low places. Within minutes, it looked exactly the same as before she unleashed her attack. This definitely isn't natural. Something is up with this swamp. I don't like how the stones seemed to call to me. There's something dark and evil about this place… I don't know what, but it puts a sick feeling in my gut.
Her sick stomach got worse when she remembered the reason why she was there. Oh no... Putting her hands on her head and pulling on her hair, Ginge worried about Iseber. Did my blast hurt him? Did it kill him?! What if he's laying in the middle of that creepy place, unable to move?! I'm such a hothead! They're just boys! They don't know any better! She wanted to look for him, but she was hesitant to enter the swamp. What if something happened to her? Who would take care of the pod-lings? Shamefully and sorrowfully, she turned away from the swamp and took off for camp. I'm sorry Iseber. If you're still alive, make it back to me that way.
Iseber walked through the swamp, blasting vines and leaves. His path closed in behind him, but that didn't bother him as much as it did the first time. He was just glad that he got away from Ginge's wrath. Though he only made it a few miles into the swamp, he never experienced or even heard her attack. Carefully treading ground to avoid hidden water, Iseber continued to walk for hours. The entire time he walked, he neither heard or saw any animals. The only sounds were his footsteps and the rustling of leaves and vines from the calm breeze.
The sun started to slip past the horizon. The already shady swamp floor became almost pitch black. Chilly breezes swept through the trees. Iseber decided to hunker down in the bushes. He wasn't risking sleeping in a snake infested tree again. Surprisingly, the odd red bushes were very comfortable and he fell fast asleep.
Screaming permeated through the darkness. Iseber awoke. It sounded like a woman being viciously assaulted. He sat up, trembling. Is that Ginge? More screaming shot through the dark. He got up and dashed for the source, thinking Ginge might be in danger. To his dismay, the screaming got lower and became almost demonic. It sounded like several women screaming now. The young saiyan lad was terrified. He climbed up to a tree branch and quaked.
The voices seemed to surround him, getting closer. Iseber scaled the tree he was in to its very top, looking down around for any signs of people. He saw nothing. Now the screams were seemingly coming from the base of his tree. Iseber didn't get any sleep for the rest of the night. The 'women' screamed until sunrise.
He awoke, clinging tightly to the very top of the tree. The young saiyan had nodded off shortly after sunrise. It was then noon. Rubbing his eyes and yawning, he levitated off the tree. His stomach growled. He hadn't eaten for a full day. Iseber spotted something peculiar: a clearing in the swamp. Lazily, he flew towards it. Upon arrival, he looked down in it to find the same pyramid he and Pinach found last time.
He landed at the opening in the pyramid. The same creepy stillness filled the air. Raising his hand, he mustered a small ki ball and threw it into the hole. The darkness seemed to swallow the ball, only a faint outline of the interior became visible. Ok what the hell is this place? First it was the self repairing trees, then screaming, now there's a pyramid of no return?!
Iseber studied the hole for a few minutes. Finally, he sighed and stepped towards it. I need to find out what's going on here. I know I'll hate myself for this... but it's my only lead. Just before he reaches the threshold, a man's voice calls from behind him. "Stop!" Iseber jumped and turned to see the mysterious person. It was an old man who looked well past ninety. The man wore a feathered headdress which hid his hair. Black and white warpaint formed jagged lines around his nose and mouth. His tan skin seemed to blend with the spotted animal pelt around his shoulders. A hide 'skirt' wrapped around his waist.
"I wouldn't go in there if I were you." Iseber simply stared at the man, blinking. The man's expression was cold. "I assure you, you aren't seeing things. I'm real." Shaking his head and blinking once more, Iseber responded. "Who are you? What is up with this place?" The man stared at Iseber, unmoved. "Who I am is not important. As for this place... well I'm not sure you would understand it if I explained."
The man's black eyes studied Iseber's tail. "Hmm. I never thought I would see another one again." Iseber's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?" The coldness never left the old man's face. "A saiyan. I never thought I would meet another one." Iseber was becoming annoyed at this old man's rambling. "Why don't you just tell me what the deal is with this place, old man?!"
Stone-faced and flat toned, the old wanderer retorted. "I should ask you what you're doing here first. Be patient. I was getting to it." He coughed into his fist. "This place is special to my people, or rather was special to my people. Hundreds of years ago, saiyans came to this world and laid waste to my people. Back then, the swamp barely covered a third of the planet. My people lived in grand stone cities spanning the entire world. We had temples, libraries, courts, stadiums, and palaces; all made from fine stone like the pyramid behind you."
He coughed once more. "My people were somewhat of a match for the saiyans, but that all changed one night when the saiyans transformed into horrible giant monsters. They utterly annihilated my people. By the time we figured out that the moon was the source of this power, blowing it up, it was too late. We had dwindled down to a handful. All was lost, and we gave up hope, running into the wilderness. Eventually, most of the saiyans left, leaving a few of their weak and sickly kin behind. Me and my brethren made sport of hunting down the remainders, collecting their tails as trophies."
The man tugged on his plain hide belt, rotating it around to reveal eight saiyan tails hanging from it. He continued his story with the same cold face while Iseber gazed on in horror and disgust. "With the help of our planet's guardian, we concocted a plan to in a way, 'resurrect' our people. With very powerful magical rituals, we bound the souls of the dead to this swamp. Shortly after, the swamp grew from covering only a third of the world, to nine tenths of it. Any damage to it is repaired by the restless souls of my people. The swamp was designed to be the perfect defense against anyone who would desecrate our world with their presence; anyone who walks in is ensnared by the swamp's spell. The spell bends space itself, making intruders walk aimlessly until they starve to death. Not even flight can break the spell; once you've touched the ground here, it's impossible to get out."
The man's eyes squinted and a scowl formed on his face. A sinister tone crept into his voice. "Or so I thought, until you and that other saiyan spawn managed to escape somehow. I was looking forward to watching you both die. The fact that you've seen that pyramid twice is a great shame on my head." Iseber looked behind at the pyramid before looking back at the man, baring his fangs when he did. The man smiled a grizzly smile. "Ah, yes. I didn't tell you about the pyramid yet. It serves as a nexus for the souls of my people and the swamp. Inside, is the hate my people held for yours. The pure dark emotions ensure that no light can penetrate the darkness. If you had stepped in there without a pure heart, you would have surely died an agonizing death."
Iseber turned to the dark opening in the pyramid. He could swear he saw something moving inside, but his thoughts were interrupted by the old man coming closer. Iseber took a battle stance against him. "I don't understand. Why stop me from going in if it meant certain death?" The man drew a long, poison covered dagger made of bone, chuckling. "If I hadn't stopped you, then your lovely tail would have been out of my grasp." Iseber's eyes widened as the crazy old man charged him with the dagger.
Iseber ducked under slashes, weaving away from stabs. The old timer was very fast for someone that looked so old. Fortunately for Iseber, his morning training sessions with Pinach were paying off. Using both feet, he kicked the old man away, sending him tumbling across the clearing. But the old man got up, coughing and wheezing. Blood trickled from his mouth. "I'll admit, I'm not in my prime anymore. That time passed centuries ago. But you're never too old to kill saiyan scum!"
The old man fired a small energy beam from his fingertip, which missed Iseber but greatly surprised him. Iseber smirked, his saiyan lust for battle going wild. "Ok geezer, I'm game. You think you've got power? Check this out!" Iseber began charging his signature, the Final Spirit Cannon. A brilliant light shone from his right hand. The old man's eyes were wide and fearful. Iseber put his hand up at the old warrior, ready to fire. The wind caused the man to put his arm up, shielding his eyes. Iseber fired; the beam streaked over to the man and exploded. The explosion ripped through the swamp, annihilating foliage and evaporating the moisture.
Splinters of wood fell from the sky as the smoke and steam cleared. A huge cone of destruction went out from Iseber's feet; it stretched for a mile. Did I get him? Eventually, the swamp began regenerating once again. Iseber looked on, a bit creeped out by the old warrior's story. That's seriously freaky if it's really long dead souls doing all of this. But it makes sense, what else could? In any case, it looks like I got that creepy weirdo! If only Bardock and Pinach could've seen that!"
Iseber lowered his hands and relaxed. He laughed and cracked his knuckles. "Take that, asshole! No one's taking my tail today!" As if on cue, he felt his tail be grabbed by a boney but firm hand. "Are you sure about that, boy?" Iseber turned his head back, terrified. It was him, the feathered warrior. The warrior crushed Iseber's tail in his hand, causing him to kneel and scream out in pain. "Oh yes. This will do just nicely. It's a bit shorter than the others, but that doesn't mat-" The old man started coughing up blood, releasing his grip. Iseber leapt away and stood battle ready.
There wasn't much point, however. The old warrior was on his hands and knees, coughing up more blood. "Damn...it...so close…" More coughing. "Just one... more kill... one..." The old man looked up at the mortified Iseber and grinned. His arms gave out and he slumped to the ground, eyes glazed over with death. Blood poured from the corner of his mouth.
Iseber stood over the man's corpse. "You know, I would have felt bad for you if you weren't such a monster. I do in a way feel bad for you. Goodbye. Rest in peace." Turning to the pyramid, he walked towards it. Once again, he thought he saw a figure moving around inside. "Who's there? I saw you!" No one answered him. It was entirely silent. Feeling the darkness stare back at him made Iseber uneasy. It's probably just my head playing tricks.
He turned and took to the air, flying high. When Iseber was long gone, a hooded figure stepped out from the shadowy hole in the pyramid. The figure was completely cloaked in a black robe. He spoke in a gentle tone. "How interesting. I never thought I'd see the day." The figure looked at the dead native warrior at his feet and sighed. "Goodbye, Pachun. I only wish you could do as the boy said and rest in peace."
Ginge gutted a giant red bird in the middle of camp. Her old armor was replaced by a spare set that came from a wardrobe in the house. After much pleading and ego massaging, she had managed to get Tercres to help her hunt. The children all gathered around her as she worked, crowding her space. They had gotten over their squeamishness towards blood, and were eager to eat. Going hungry the night before had sharpened their appetites. Ginge became frustrated by their pestering. "GUYS! Go wait inside! Or better yet, practice your flying! I want to see everyone make ten laps around the camp, on the double!"
The crowd groaned. "If you don't, I'll make you watch me eat. Then I'll toss the rest of it in the river!" The children gasped as she said that. But one child giggled and retorted. "No you won't. You still have to feed the pod-lings, remember?" It was the very small Gine look-alike whom Pinach had defended from Tercres. Ginge's face turned red and she closed her eyes. Does everyone know about that now? I swear to god I'm gonna strangle…
She became depressed when she thought about Iseber. He hadn't returned for over a day now. And after firing that attack at him, it seemed likely that he was dead or dying out there. If he's still alive somewhere, he's probably freezing and hungry and maybe wounded. Why did I have to fly off the rails like that? I'm so sorry Iseber... Pinach…
Pinach laid in his bed with the lights extinguished. He stared up at the ceiling; his eyes had a dead look to them. The boy was covered in welts and bruises from his beating by Ginge. The pain he felt from that was nothing compared to what he felt for his friend, Iseber. In a deep corner of his heart, he resented Ginge. She had told him everything in private. Tears ran down her face while she did. Her display and apologies went unaccepted in his heart. Pinach just wanted to go after Iseber, knowing how terrifying the swamp was, but Ginge forbade it. While he resented her and felt compelled to look for his friend, he was in no condition to defy Ginge, and he genuinely feared her reprisal.
So there he lay, in his bed with the lights off. His stomach growled when he smelled roasting bird, but he ignored it. Nothing mattered to him anymore. Sleep was the only thing he wanted now. The sun finally set, allowing true darkness to fill the room. Chilled air crept into the room, but Pinach hardly noticed it. Bliss at last... Almost.
He could hear shouting and laughing just outside his window. The children were sitting round the bonfire, horsing around and talking. The noise was driving Pinach nuts. Can't I get a wink of sleep after losing my best friend?! He pressed his face into the pillow, anything to muffle the noise. If I go out there and yell at them, Ginge is gonna smack me around again… The final straw broke when a piece of bone hit his window with a loud thud.
Pinach got up and stormed outside, rounding the corner. "Can you kindly shut the fuck up?! I'm trying to sleep!" Everyone stopped talking and playing to look at him. No one said a word. Their faces dimmed, their eyes falling to the ground. "Thank you!" Pinach turned around and started walking back. But before he reached the corner, a figure slinked out from around it. It was Tercres. "What's up with you, bowl-cut? Still sore after getting your ass beat by that harpy?"
Pinach smiled. This was just the therapy he needed. "Not as sore as your arm is gonna be." He spat on the ground. Tercres laughed. "Still proud of that, are we? Well you're not getting off easy this time." Tercres took a battle stance not unlike Vegeta's when he fought Goku for the first time. Pinach smirked and tilted his head towards an empty field. They flew off together towards it.
When they landed, Tercres took his stance while Pinach stretched and warmed up. They were followed by some of the older children. Some of them cheered on Tercres while the rest stood silent. "It's good you decided to make my day, Tercres. I've some pent up anger to take out." Tercres cracked a nasty smirk. "Oh you mean cuz' of Iseber? Right. I forgot about how he ran away like a coward to escape the witch."
Pinach's eyes locked onto Tercres with hatred. Tercres kept poking the bear. "He deserved what he got. He should have just taken it like a true warrior instead of running scared! Then maybe he'd still be here!" Pinach snarled at him. His tail unraveled from his waist and bristled. Tercres kept staring him down, relishing every ounce of pain his venomous words inflicted. "I hope you're ready, Tercres. Because I'm gonna make you regret being born."
Pinach leapt at Tercres, unleashing a wild flurry of punches. Tercres blocked each one. Irritated, Pinach threw a haymaker at Tercres' stomach. Tercres popped behind him and kicked him in the back of the head. Pinach hit the ground hard, getting buried in the dirt. When he picked himself up, he could hear Tercres laughing at him from above. He's improved a bunch since we fought. What has he been doing? Pinach remembered all the times Tercres had been missing. He's been training somewhere while we've been surviving. He only shows up at night to be fed and sleep. This jerk has been living rent free, getting stronger while we fight to put food in our mouths!
Pinach flew up to Tercres. "How was that, bowl-cut? You ready to kneel?" Pinach tapped the side of his head, knocking out dust and dirt from his ears. "I suppose that'll do for a warm-up, Tercres. It's time to get serious." Tercres growled at him before charging. They popped in and out of vision, clashing in the air. The spectating children below were filled with wonder and awe at the battle.
In the final clash, Pinach punched Tercres away and into the ground. He skidded along the dirt, creating a deep trail. Bloodied, he leapt to his feet and fired a volley of ki blasts at Pinach. This caught Pinach by surprise, who held his arms up to defend. The blasts were stronger than he expected, and he soon found his guard breaking. A final blast hit Pinach, knocking him out of the sky. His smoking body fell hard, creating a small crater.
Struggling, he sat up. Just when he did, Pinach was kicked in the chest by Tercres, sending him skidding along the ground. His body gave out; after that beating Ginge gave him, he wasn't through recovering. As he lay helpless on the ground, Tercres stomped on him. With each blow, ribs were cracked and broken. Pinach spat up blood. The spectators, who were somewhat cheering Tercres on before, were now screaming for him to stop. Tercres stopped beating on Pinach for a moment and fired a weak blast at them, hitting the young Gine look-alike directly. Everyone else rolled out of the way. Her screams of pain pierced the air as her older sister rushed to her side.
Tercres looked down on Pinach, who was struggling under his foot. "I've wanted to do this ever since I laid eyes on you at the academy. That hair of yours looks just like your mom's. It's perfect. Because just like her, you're my little whore." Pinach struggled harder, desperately trying to avenge his honor. With a dark hunger in his eyes, Tercres raised his hand and gathered energy.
Just as he's about to fire a blast into Pinach's head, Tercres is blindsided by someone. The strike sends him tumbling along the ground for many yards. Shaking off the concussion, he looks at his assaulter to behold Ginge calmly walking towards him. There was no emotion on her face. Her tail was wrapped around her waist and a faint aura surrounded her. Her wayward hair flapped in the wind. Tercres became unnerved; he hadn't counted on fighting her yet. As she reached him, he threw a punch at her face which she slipped under. Upon evading, she uppercut him in the gut causing him to vomit.
Tercres collapsed to his knees. Ginge gave him no rest; her face was completely emotionless. She began beating him savagely. Every so often, Tercres would throw a punch or kick, but she would simply evade and keep attacking. Every kick and punch she landed caused him to grunt and groan. She broke his ribs, arms, legs, and countless other bones. He had several teeth knocked out; his face was a swollen mess. Tercres slipped in and out of consciousness several times during the beating. The savagery lasted for several minutes.
When Ginge finished, she stood over his mangled body, panting. Still, there was no discernable emotion on her face. "For all I care, you can lay out here and rot. But if by some miracle you get up after this, don't ever show your face around here again. Because if you do, I will kill you." Tercres coughed up blood, groaning. Turning away from Tercres, she walked back to where Pinach was laying.
Pinach could see the whole thing from his dirt bed. He became scared when he saw Ginge walking towards him. I'm next, aren't I? He closed his eyes and turned his head away. He winced when he felt her hands. But to his surprise, he felt himself be gently scooped up. She carried him in her arms. Opening his eyes and looking at her, he saw that her face was completely blank as she stared ahead. His cheeks turned red. They soon returned to normal when he remembered what she did to Iseber. Pinach's gaze fell away.
Carrying him, Ginge walked over to the little girl who had been hit by Tercres' attack. She spoke to the older sister, who was holding the small child in her arms. "Celle, take Veeda and bring her to my house. She'll stay with me for a while." Celle nodded with a tear on her cheek. Waiting for Celle, Ginge carried Pinach back to camp. The others followed, stopping briefly to look back at the aftermath of the battle. Tercres still lay where he was, occasionally coughing and trying to yell obscenities.
When they returned, Ginge and Celle went inside Ginge's home. Arti stood in the doorway of the living room which connected the bedroom and storeroom to the rest of the house. He had been sleeping and was awoken by the sounds of distant fighting. A grin creeped across his face when he saw his sister carrying Pinach. He looked disappointed when Ginge ignored him and walked past him to the bedroom. Some of the pod-lings had awoken from the racket as well, whimpering. Setting Pinach down on her bed, Ginge walked out of the bedroom.
Celle stood patiently in the living room, her sister in her arms. Ginge spoke to her. "Set her down on the table." The table was round and wooden, surrounded by four wooden chairs. Veeda was unconscious and limp, wincing when her sister placed her down. Digging in a wooden cabinet, Ginge found simple medical supplies and brought them over. She had been through simple medical training when she attended the saiyan army academy. Most male students didn't learn such things, only fighting and survival skills. It was an unspoken cultural norm that females know how to treat wounds for their peers' and mate's sake.
When she set the supplies down next to Veeda, she turned to Celle and Arti, who had snuck in to spy. "You two go wait outside. This isn't something you need to see." Celle hesitated, but did as she was told. Arti pretended to leave, but stayed behind the corner. Ginge could hear that his footsteps didn't sound like he left. "Arti. I know you're there." He poked his head around and grinned a silly grin. "This isn't a game. Go outside." With a pouty face, he disappeared around the corner, this time obeying her. Ginge turned back to the unconscious Veeda and sighed. How could someone do something like this to a little girl? Her usually soft face was contorted into a stern expression. The irony was not lost on her that she had been training to do this very thing to the youth of other races, and had been taught that it was a good thing. Internally, it was a thought that would plague her dreams for many years.
She began stripping the armor off little Veeda. As her clothing was removed, it was revealed that she had moderate burns all over her stomach and waistline. Not only that; the fur on her tail was completely burned off on one side. Ginge dry heaved. Though she knew how to treat burns, she had never treated a serious case like this in the field. Opening the small kit of supplies, she sifted through the contents until she found a potent burn ointment. Squeezing the bottle, she poured liberal amounts of the creamy substance over the burned portions of Veeda's body. The little girl winced as it touched her skin, awakening with screams as Ginge rubbed the cream into the burns.
Everyone inside and just outside could hear the screaming. Celle sank to her knees and held her face in her hands, crying while Arti sat next to her with a sad frown. Inside the house, Ginge was having to restrain Veeda on the table. "Stay still! I'll never be done if you keep moving!" When it became apparent that Veeda wasn't going to cooperate, Ginge picked her off the table and pinned her to the floor by sitting on her. She finished applying the ointment while Veeda screamed bloody murder.
When the deed was finished, she wrapped the whimpering Veeda in gauze bandages and placed her on an empty bed in the bedroom. It was getting very crowded in there with the addition of two guests. Walking outside, Ginge spoke to Celle, who was crouched near the wall. "Celle, your sister is ok. She has bad burns all over, but I treated them. Now she just needs rest." Celle nodded, wiping away her tears and smiling. Ginge turned to Arti. "Arti. You're gonna have to sleep with some of the other kids for a bit, until Pinach gets better." Arti stamped his foot and pouted in protest. Ginge's temper flared for a second before it came back under control. She had learned her lesson... maybe. "Arti!...*inhale*... Arti, I need you to act like a warrior tonight and sleep in your own bed, in a different house. There isn't gonna be room for both of us with Pinach and Veeda sleeping in there, and I have to be there to take care of them. So please, just do what I ask."
Arti nodded, but kept a sad frown on his face. Ginge smiled warmly and patted him on the head. Celle and Arti walked away together while Ginge went back inside. Walking into the bedroom, she was relieved to find that the pod-lings had settled back to sleep. Her eyes moved to Pinach, who acknowledged that she came in, but then turned his head to look at the ceiling. Ginge looked down and away, her tail drooped. Her hands came together below her waist.
After a few moments, Ginge timidly walked over to her bed which Pinach laid on. She sat on the edge near the middle, facing away from him. Her hair and tail rested on him. Pinach didn't respond, his staredown with the ceiling continued. He felt her hand grab his. She moved it closer to her and gently squeezed. Pinach turned his head to look at her. Ginge was still facing away, her head hung low with her eyes shut. They sat in the quiet dark for half an hour.
When she could hear him begin to softly snore, she turned and looked mournfully at him. I'm so sorry, Pinach... Ginge crawled onto the floor and curled up next to the bed. Iseber. Pinach. Forgive me.