The Temple Of Seven
Chapter Two
By Shade
Carrot watched as Apple opened the double doors in interest. Apple's face showed an expression of amusement. "Why'd you think it would be this easy?" She asked studying their shocked faces. Carrot managed a weak smile. "What's that?" "It's an ocean," Marron said as though he found it hard to believe himself. "We've gotta go through the elements?" Chacolat asked with a sigh. "Of course," Apple said, her tone still upbeat. "That's just great," Tira grumbled. "How are we supposed to get across?" Gateau asked a still smiling Apple. "Oh," she said a bit of a high voice. Apple approached the double door and stood at its edge so that the toes of her boots where over the threshold. Apple looked from side to side as though she was searching for something before the giant smile returned to her face and she leapt to the side, through the door. She ran forward and all leaned through the door. "I've got it," Apple said in a singsong voice. She was currently standing in a small but elegant boat. Come on everyone are you just going to stand there or are you going to COME ON!!!"
***
"Isn't this romantic Darling? It's almost like being on our own private love boat," Chacolat said while snuggling closer to Carrot. "NOT QUITE PRIVATE SISTER!!!" Tira growled as Carrot scrambled away. "I like that love boat idea," Apple said casually, hugging Marron's arm while rubbing against his shoulder. Marron blushed. "What is it Marron?" She asked innocently, leaning completely against him. "Can you...um...please not do that?" Marron said in a shaky voice. "What's wrong loverboy? Shy?" Apple leaned even further against him and out of the corner of her eye saw Gateau scowling at her. "Ohhhhhhhhhhhh," she giggled. Apple sat up so that she could get on her hands and knees and crawled over to Gateau. With an evil smile she stretched her body out cat like and pressed a finger hard against his forehead. "Ohhhhhhhhhhhh, ish the bi man jelwish," she cooed as though he was a baby. Gateau made a swipe at her but she winked and pushed herself back against Marron just in time. Marron sighed and moved further away. "What?" She sobbed. "Just um...please...um," Marron was forced to be silent as a hurt expression came over Apple's face. "What," she sobbed, tears fogging her eyes. "I...um...," Marron was silenced once more as Apple's bottom lip began to tremble "Ugh nothing," Marron almost sobbed himself as she as she rested her head on his chest. Only Gateau saw her smiling. "Hey!" Gateau shouted rising to his feet. "What is it bi boy?" She asked with another evil grin. "Oh that's it!" Gateau shouted reaching out to hit her. "Chacolat stop hitting on Carrot!" Tira screamed at her sister. "And why shouldn't I?!" She shouted back standing as well. Now everyone in the boat was standing except Carrot and Marron. "Um we're going to...ah..." Carrot crawled over to the side of the boat his brother was on in an attempt to get away from the fighting. "Tip over?" He asked in yet another high voice. "Yeah," Marron nodded. "And um...we're going to..." "Die?" Carrot nodded. "They're going to kill us," they said in unison now both with high voices. As if on cue the boat tipped over.
***
"I'm wet," Apple grumbled. The hunters where all currently sitting atop an upside down boat. "So am I," Carrot grumbled back. "I'm wet," Apple repeated. "Ugh," Tira's voice was a waver as she curled into a ball and laved down. "I'm wet," Chacolat narrowed her eyes. "Shut up," Chacolat growled and lifting her foot kicked Apple into the water. There was a soft splash as Apple fell into the water and she cursed as she surfaced. "Damn you!" She cursed nursing her bleeding hand. Chacolat looked at her bleeding hand with disinterest. "Yeah so, you're bleeding. Big deal," Apple swore again. "It is a big deal!" She screamed as she tried to climb back up the side of the boat. "There are monsters here and what do you think blood in the water will do?!" There was a loud splash behind her and she threw her arms out wildly to Chacolat who was still leaning over the edge. Chacolat managed to come to her senses and was able to take her by he arms and pull her onto the boat before a serpent like monster burst from the ocean. Marron stood and the monster burst into flames only to remain streaching tall above the water, every one of it's slick blue-green scales catching the light, every one of its fierce fangs flashing dangerously. The hunters shielded themselves as the monster thrashed its tail and both the boat and the hunters went flying. There was yet another splash as all of them plunged into the sea. The monster followed closely and both Tira and Chacolat jumped from Carrot's head to the monster's back. Laughter filled the air and Tira lashed out at the monster with her whip as Chacolat pierced its flesh with the tip of her garrote. The monster seemed unaffected by anything they did and after letting them see that they posed no threat shook its head wildly. Chacolat threw the tip of her garrote deep into the serpent and held on. Tira on the other hand was flung into the water. "AGH!" Chacolat scanned the water. "TIRA!" She called her voice shrill. "I'm okay sis!" Tira gagged surfacing partially from the water. "Chacolat watch out!" Marron shouted as the monster thrashed its head again. "Uh," Chacolat sighed, digging the garrote deeper and crouching. "What am I supposed to do up here?!" She called as the garrote once again reminded her that no damage was being done. "Kill it!" Apple cried. "And how do I do that?!" Chacolat asked in an exasperated tone. "How am I supposed to know just kill it!" "Oh that's a lot of...what's...that noise," The air was filled with high-pitched sounds they could not identify. "That's not," Carrot whined. Apple nodded. "More monsters," Marron choked. "This all seems kinda one sided doesn't it?" Gateau laughed weakly. "Very," Tira agreed, then to her sister. "Chacolat get back here!" Chacolat tried to pull the garrote from the monsters back but it held firm. "I can't!" Chacolat cried, pulling as hard as she could. "Just come on!" Carrot urged her. "Just give me a," Tira interrupted her sister. "Just come on!" "Got it!" Chacolat sighed triumphantly. It was too late, the monsters had already closed in on them. With one last thrust the creature managed to strike Chacolat with it's tail. She was flung into the water and vanished from sight. "Chacolat!" Tira shouted. Carrot and Marron dove under the water, quickly followed by Tira as she came from her daze. The water was surprisingly clear and it took only a matter of seconds for bright red leather to be spotted not to far away. It shouldn't be much longer until they would catch her. They would carry her back to the surface then...then...A tentacle came from nowhere and slammed hard against Tira. Her lungs filled with water as she tried to scream. Carrot stopped swimming and lunged at the unconscious Tira. With a quick glance at his brother Carrot swam upwards.
***
Marron reached blindly forward and grabbed Chacolat around the waist. He had no more breath and it was getting harder to see. Facing upward Marron easily moved Chacolat so that she was in one arm. He was about to begin swimming to the surface when another tentacle came from nowhere. Marron turned his back to it, shielding Chacolat. The tentacle hit him in the back and he went hurtling forward.
***
Carrot looked for his brother as he swam onward. Where is he?, did he find Chacolat?, I'm going to kill him if he got himself killed, wait that won't work, thoughts ran through his mind and then, Marron! Chacolat!, his brother was unconcious, the back of his robes where torn as though a strong force had strucken him from behind. Chacolat floated not to far from him. She seemed to be okay though badly bruised. Carrot took Marron in one arm and Chacolat in the other and began to swim to the surface.
***
Apple seemed to be the only still conscious when Carrot reached the others. "Apple we've got to," Apple turned to him with a sad smile and put a firm hand to his cheek. Her translucent blue eyes flashed a bright blue and Carrot himself lost consciousness.
