Sa: here I cooome! To save the daaaayy! Well…not really…I DON'T wanna save the day…hehehe…fire…
Helga: hehehe…fiiirrreee….-pulls out blowtorch-
Sa: -follows suit- heh…heh heh…heh
Shawna: oh no you don't! you two behave! –takes out a fire extinguisher-
Sa: -cackles gleefully and torches a few of Shawna's daisies-
Shawna: NO! Sa! Stop! –cries- my daisies!
Helga: heh…MY TURN!…DISCLAIMER: Sa doesn't own any of Rick Young and Michael E Bolyog's stuffses. She does own Hayden, contrary to what Shawna may think.
_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_Chapter One: The First Fight_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
Klaigge sighed. The Party was relaxed, walking in no particular order. Maali was just in front of him. Sendraak halted them, and they ate lunch at the side of the road. The talked and laughed, not expecting anything to happen after such an uneventful week. Only Klaigge heard the twig snap in the woods. Quickly he silenced the Party. They readied their weapons.
A pack of creatures, ugly, vicious, indescribable creatures crashed through the trees. The Party was hard pressed to kill them. The Things were swift and accurate, their razor-sharp teeth were hard to deflect. Having just slain another Thing, Klaigge chanced a look around…just in time to see Maali's face twist with pain. An anguished cry escaped her lips as a Thing sank its teeth into her leg. "Maali!" Klaigge lurched forward, viciously attacking any Thing that was unlucky enough to stand in his way. Within seconds he was at Maali's side, standing over her and not giving a single Thing another chance at her.
A few minutes later, the last Thing fell to Gnawgh's blade. Klaigge knelt and inspected the large gash in Maali's leg. She had gone unconscious something near the end of the fight. Klaigge pulled off his tunic and quickly bandaged the wound with strips of the fabric. Carefully, he lifted Maali's limp form and carried her to the group.
Mayetwist reacted instantly, knowing exactly how to mend Maali's leg. "She'll be up soon" Mayetwist announced, "But I'm not sure if she'll be able to travel again until tomorrow."
"We'd best find a safe place to stay," Sendraak said. A short search led the Party to a small stream with an extensive amount of open, flat ground about it. The element of surprise would be lost with the absence of trees. There were a few small rocks, the tallest of which was only about 2 feet high. Klaigge laid Maali gently down; an affectionate expression flickered across his face and was quickly replaced with worry. If anyone noticed his short display of feelings towards the Caresmha, they said nothing. Walking over to the stream, Klaigge rolled up his sleeves and splashed some water on his face.
Ted, the least affected by the fight, offered to take the first watch. Klaigge leaned against one of the rocks, only a few feet from Maali. He shot another concerned look at her before closing his eyes and drifting to sleep. He woke a few hours later, feeling refreshed. Most of the other Party members were already awake. Maali stirred and opened her eyes. "Is everyone else alright?" she asked, sitting slowly. Klaigge nodded.
"How is your leg?"
"A little sore," Maali admitted, "But I think I'm ok." She smiled at Klaigge. "You were there. When I couldn't fight anymore, you protected me."
"What are friends for?" Klaigge asked, laying a gentle hand on her shoulder. The warm look on his face and the affection in his eyes brought a strange fluttering to Maali's stomach. She looked away a moment, then stood.
"I-I'd better let everyone know I'm alright." Maali knew that she was just looking for an excuse. She had no idea why Klaigge was affecting her this way. What was it about him that made him so different from anyone else? And another thing…was Klaigge attracted to her? He was certainly acting like it. Maali willed herself to approach the rest of the Party, leaving Klaigge alone.
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ok, well, that's the end of the first chapter. FF still hasn't made Aiden's Cauldron a category, but hey, I only sent the email yesterday. Lol. Naamarie