Just a few changes to this chapter to clear it up a bit.
Ooooo...someone figured out Tamaya's part in this, huh? Well, the sad part is, Gharen and Peliopes have to leave...the good news is, someone we thought wasn't coming back, IS.
Chapter 15
******
Sadly, Syaoran hadn't remembered anything after he'd left her in that hallway. This was blamed partly on the hallucinary effects of the toxin. Sakura slumped down across her hammock, and for the first time in a very long time, pulled out the locket with her little figure in it. Her fingers caressed the two light people. She smiled sadly. Her first kiss had been nothing like the locket portrayed.
" An interesting trinket..."
Sakura snapped it shut as Gharen entered from the shadow of the doorway.
" Faerie made?"
Sakura nodded silently, putting the locket back under her tunic.
" Peliopes wanted me to tell you about the Staff. She says that since Syaoran is healed, there is no reason to go to Apothecary City. We'll therefore go around the continent, and touch down in a port in Khelav, home of the Roam."
" Roam?"
" There is a priestess there who can be of some assistance to you."
" You say, that as if you're not continuing with us."
Gharen didn't answer, but made himself comfortable on the floor. Sakura smiled - the patchwork of skin and scale seemed almost natural in the dim light.
" The Staff of Ledinar is said to be an accursed object. It was rumored to have been created by a vengeful Sorceress, after her children were taken by a neighboring Overlord. It was given to the Overlord as a gift, and changed him into a shadow. He is supposed to now reside in the Dark Forest, where we just left."
" But, if the Staff is there, why are we going away from it?"
" ...The Staff itself is not there, though many thought it was. But, the key to finding the Staff is there." Gharen frowned," That toxin was no accident. It was a message. And there are only a few people I can think of that have the resources, or the ingredients available. The Overlord is one of them. He can see us as we travel. Therefore we must seem like we are losing the trail, and go around a different route."
" Oh."
They were silent, when finally Sakura asked," What does it look like?"
" The Staff? I don't know. Only the Overlord, and the Sorceress who created it have ever laid eyes on it."
Sakura nodded, and giggled as little Piap crawled up on top of Gharen. The raptor had grown very obviously attached to the little Digger, constantly fussing over it, preening it like a mother cat, and letting it sleep in the nook between it's leg and body. Now, it bounded around, a little fuzzy ball that never seemed to stop. It halted in front of Sakura, grinning foolishly, it's fangs gleaming.
" I don't understand why the Supreme Blue would allow his only blue son to come with us on this journey."
" Jerj is a peculiar sort. He worries about strange things like color and hereditary trivia, but never seems at all disturbed about his son's safety."
Little Piap rolled about, pretending to scratch tunnels into the floor.
" All right, little one." Gharen scolded," You must sleep now. A tunnel on the ship will not be welcome."
Sakura laughed as the Raptor pushed Piap out the door, following slowly. She heard the faint tap-tap of claws receding down the hallway, then all was silent. Her smile faded, and she carefully picked up the candle on the bedside shelf. With great care, she walked out into the hallway, down three doors, and knocked on the fourth one.
" Come in."
Sakura took a deep breath, then walked in.
******
Syaoran smiled at the new arrival.
" Sakura!"
" Hi," She awkwardly entered, and sat at the foot of the bed, He was sitting upright, polishing his staff, as usual.
There was an awkward silence for a while, broken only by the hiss of wax dripping on the cold floor.
" I'm sorry." He said suddenly.
She looked up.
" For what?"
" You've been doing a lot of stuff for me lately. I'm sorry. I just wish I could repay you for all the trouble."
Sakura blushed. She should be the one apologizing. He'd done so much for her, she felt even what she'd done for him seemed...inadequate.
" No trouble."
They were silent for awhile. Finally, Sakura got up, and slowly made her way towards the door.
" I'll see you later Syaoran."
Suddenly, little Piap rushed into the room, running up onto the bed. Sakura giggled, and tried to pick him up, but he'd firmly attached himself to Syaoran's leg, squeaking little purrs.
" I guess he wants to make friends. I'll leave you two alone."
Syaoran laughed as Sakura left, picking up the hamster, who only gave him huge puppy dog eyes.
" Hi, little fellow," He scratched Piap's belly, and sat back thinking.
Piap rolled back over, and looked up at Syaoran, cocking his head to oneside. Syaoran, only continued to stroke his head, thinking back to his dreams...
~
" Welcome to Roam!"
It was the next morning, and the group had finally reached the port at Khelev. They'd hiked up to the cliffside, and Sakura looked up as Peliopes stretched her arms out towards the distances. Everywhere she looked, desert stretched around her. Suddenly, she saw what looked like a moving cloud of dust.
" What's that?"
" That's the main city of ."
As the dust cloud moved closer, she realized that what she was looking at was a city atop of a huge...moving rock?!
" That's a Caskeg." Gharen explained.
" A what?"
" A huge turtle. The city's built on top of it..."
Suddenly, a cry went up. Little Piap was running towards the turtle!
" Get him back!" Peliopes cried.
Sakura raced after him, Syaoran following behind. Suddenly, she heaved herself up, and threw herself at the Digger. Wrapping her arms around it, she picked it up. But, almost as suddenly, something picked her up as well!
" Auggh!!"
Sakura felt herself dragged beneath the sand.
" SAKURA!"
Syaoran raced as fast as he could, only to see Sakura disappear beneath the ground.
" SAKURA!!" Syaoran looked around wildly. Suddenly, something snaked at him too.
******
Sakura held her breath as something wrapped around her waist...suddenly, she she felt her mouth open in a scream of pain as something punctured her. Sand poured in as she was pushed with great force upwards. Suddenly, she was in the air! Spitting sand, she saw Syaoran far below, and what seemed to be a huge tentacle trying to swat him flat. Another tentacle was around her like a thick creeper vine, and was trying to squeeze the life out of her. A large claw tipped the end, and it was this that had opened a nice wound in her hip. She screamed as it hurled her towards the ground.
****
Syaoran looked up frantically, it was trying to pound her to a pulp! Having warded off his attacker, he took off to save Sakura. Halting beneath her, he took his staff and jammed it into the base of the tentacle. It shuddered, and he pressed harder. There was a great rumble, and suddenly, the tentacle unraveled. Sakura fell, right into Syaoran's waiting arms. He carried her away, Piap running behind him. The group had reached a ridge, and just as they touched it, the sands began to drain away, almost like they were in a huge bucket with a hole at the bottom.
" What is that?!"
Peliopes looked on.
" Those are the feeding tentacles for the Caskeg."
Sakura looked up. As the sands cleared, she could see the bottom of the turtle. There were no flippers, but what seemed like a mass of huge snakes. The tentacles propelled it around, grasping at everything within it's reach.
" The Caskeg is constantly on the move, searching for a mate. It stops every half hour or so to send out a mating call, and to feed."
No sooner said, then the tentacles all withdrew into the shell. Out of the front, came a huge turtle head, which opened its mouth and let out a loud rumbling bellow. There was silence for a moment, and then, there was an answering cry from far to the north.
" How are we going to get there?"
" There should be a trolley line any minute..."
Something flew from the turtle towards them, imbedding itself inches from Gharen's head. It was an arrowhead, attached to a thick cable. Something puttered towards them on that cable.
" Our trolley."
Syaoran murmured something to Sakura, who nodded and got up. He tore off both sleeves of the tunic he wore, wrapping it around her waist. The trolley operator rushed to her aid, much to Syaoran's annoyance - not because he was being a gentleman, but because he shoved past everyone to do it.
" Oh, miss! Here!"
Syaoran glared a warning at the operator, but the boy only gave him a once over, followed by a triumphant grin. He escorted Sakura to a seat up front, leaving the rest of the group at the back. Syaoran was practically bristling, as the operator touched her leg gently - he wasn't hurt, so why did he have to use her for a brace to get up?! His distaste grew to venom, as he saw the boy wink at her. If it weren't for Peliopes sudden hand on his shoulder, forcing him to sheath his talons, he probably would have bashed in that harlot's head. Yes, harlot. The boy looked so ridiculously feminine, that would be the only word to describe him.
" I have some cream here, just for the occasion." Syaoran could feel his face grow very red, but it wasn't from embarassment," Got to watch out for that Caskeg."
The boy reached out to apply some, but Sakura pushed his hand away firmly.
" I can do it myself." She said simply.
" But, really Miss, I'd be happy to..."
" I CAN DO IT MYSELF." Her eyes narrowed very suddenly, a glare that could pierce a shield.
" Of course." He bowed, then handed her the cream, Syaoran smirking at his retreating back. Point score.
******
Sakura never trusted that boy for a second. His eyes were never on her face, constantly twitching. Nothing like Syaoran. When he spoke, his gaze was always on you. This cad seemed to be talking to her legs rather than to her - if he planned on winning anyone that way, he should go find a colony of storks. They certainly wouldn't care if he stared at their legs or not.
She was very much relieved when he went away, and Syaoran came to join her. The boy hadn't lied about one thing - the cream worked wonders. Almost immediately, the gash disappeared, almost as if it had never been there to start. She looked at it, then carefully slipped it into her bag. Could come in handy some day.
" So how long have you two been together?"
Sakura blinked. Oh. The boy again. He had this curious look on his face. She was tempted to say she was engaged already, but a voice beat her to the punch...
" We'll be married in the next Autumn."
******
Syaoran smirked as he saw the boy pale. Sakura's face was a different color too, red as rose blood, but he noticed she didn't make any move to protest. Just to add to the tension, Syaoran had to stopper a sharp breath of surprise as Sakura leaned her head into his shoulder, smiling winningly.
" Yes. For we love each other dearly."
******
Tamaya had to put a hand over her mouth, to keep the smile from breaking the moment. They were so believable. The trolley operator ignored them after that. He kept stammering to himself afterward, keeping his eyes towards the front of the trolley. A sudden thought - but was it all really just an act? Sakura didn't seem to mind using Syaoran for a head rest, and he didn't seem to be complaining either.
" That's probably as close as they'll get to saying anything." Gharen remarked, reading her face," For now."
The trolley came to a halt, and the boy bid each passenger farewell, ignoring Sakura and Syaoran. They didn't seem to care. They were somewhat caught up in their little charade. But, the moment was broken as Piap ran up, whining in apology. Sakura only smiled, pulling free of Syaoran's hand, and picking up the Digger.
" Silly. No, I'm fine. Just be careful next time."
******
Haha. That's good. Not much movement in the "questing" sense, but, oh well. Get that in next time.
Ooooo...someone figured out Tamaya's part in this, huh? Well, the sad part is, Gharen and Peliopes have to leave...the good news is, someone we thought wasn't coming back, IS.
Chapter 15
******
Sadly, Syaoran hadn't remembered anything after he'd left her in that hallway. This was blamed partly on the hallucinary effects of the toxin. Sakura slumped down across her hammock, and for the first time in a very long time, pulled out the locket with her little figure in it. Her fingers caressed the two light people. She smiled sadly. Her first kiss had been nothing like the locket portrayed.
" An interesting trinket..."
Sakura snapped it shut as Gharen entered from the shadow of the doorway.
" Faerie made?"
Sakura nodded silently, putting the locket back under her tunic.
" Peliopes wanted me to tell you about the Staff. She says that since Syaoran is healed, there is no reason to go to Apothecary City. We'll therefore go around the continent, and touch down in a port in Khelav, home of the Roam."
" Roam?"
" There is a priestess there who can be of some assistance to you."
" You say, that as if you're not continuing with us."
Gharen didn't answer, but made himself comfortable on the floor. Sakura smiled - the patchwork of skin and scale seemed almost natural in the dim light.
" The Staff of Ledinar is said to be an accursed object. It was rumored to have been created by a vengeful Sorceress, after her children were taken by a neighboring Overlord. It was given to the Overlord as a gift, and changed him into a shadow. He is supposed to now reside in the Dark Forest, where we just left."
" But, if the Staff is there, why are we going away from it?"
" ...The Staff itself is not there, though many thought it was. But, the key to finding the Staff is there." Gharen frowned," That toxin was no accident. It was a message. And there are only a few people I can think of that have the resources, or the ingredients available. The Overlord is one of them. He can see us as we travel. Therefore we must seem like we are losing the trail, and go around a different route."
" Oh."
They were silent, when finally Sakura asked," What does it look like?"
" The Staff? I don't know. Only the Overlord, and the Sorceress who created it have ever laid eyes on it."
Sakura nodded, and giggled as little Piap crawled up on top of Gharen. The raptor had grown very obviously attached to the little Digger, constantly fussing over it, preening it like a mother cat, and letting it sleep in the nook between it's leg and body. Now, it bounded around, a little fuzzy ball that never seemed to stop. It halted in front of Sakura, grinning foolishly, it's fangs gleaming.
" I don't understand why the Supreme Blue would allow his only blue son to come with us on this journey."
" Jerj is a peculiar sort. He worries about strange things like color and hereditary trivia, but never seems at all disturbed about his son's safety."
Little Piap rolled about, pretending to scratch tunnels into the floor.
" All right, little one." Gharen scolded," You must sleep now. A tunnel on the ship will not be welcome."
Sakura laughed as the Raptor pushed Piap out the door, following slowly. She heard the faint tap-tap of claws receding down the hallway, then all was silent. Her smile faded, and she carefully picked up the candle on the bedside shelf. With great care, she walked out into the hallway, down three doors, and knocked on the fourth one.
" Come in."
Sakura took a deep breath, then walked in.
******
Syaoran smiled at the new arrival.
" Sakura!"
" Hi," She awkwardly entered, and sat at the foot of the bed, He was sitting upright, polishing his staff, as usual.
There was an awkward silence for a while, broken only by the hiss of wax dripping on the cold floor.
" I'm sorry." He said suddenly.
She looked up.
" For what?"
" You've been doing a lot of stuff for me lately. I'm sorry. I just wish I could repay you for all the trouble."
Sakura blushed. She should be the one apologizing. He'd done so much for her, she felt even what she'd done for him seemed...inadequate.
" No trouble."
They were silent for awhile. Finally, Sakura got up, and slowly made her way towards the door.
" I'll see you later Syaoran."
Suddenly, little Piap rushed into the room, running up onto the bed. Sakura giggled, and tried to pick him up, but he'd firmly attached himself to Syaoran's leg, squeaking little purrs.
" I guess he wants to make friends. I'll leave you two alone."
Syaoran laughed as Sakura left, picking up the hamster, who only gave him huge puppy dog eyes.
" Hi, little fellow," He scratched Piap's belly, and sat back thinking.
Piap rolled back over, and looked up at Syaoran, cocking his head to oneside. Syaoran, only continued to stroke his head, thinking back to his dreams...
~
" Welcome to Roam!"
It was the next morning, and the group had finally reached the port at Khelev. They'd hiked up to the cliffside, and Sakura looked up as Peliopes stretched her arms out towards the distances. Everywhere she looked, desert stretched around her. Suddenly, she saw what looked like a moving cloud of dust.
" What's that?"
" That's the main city of ."
As the dust cloud moved closer, she realized that what she was looking at was a city atop of a huge...moving rock?!
" That's a Caskeg." Gharen explained.
" A what?"
" A huge turtle. The city's built on top of it..."
Suddenly, a cry went up. Little Piap was running towards the turtle!
" Get him back!" Peliopes cried.
Sakura raced after him, Syaoran following behind. Suddenly, she heaved herself up, and threw herself at the Digger. Wrapping her arms around it, she picked it up. But, almost as suddenly, something picked her up as well!
" Auggh!!"
Sakura felt herself dragged beneath the sand.
" SAKURA!"
Syaoran raced as fast as he could, only to see Sakura disappear beneath the ground.
" SAKURA!!" Syaoran looked around wildly. Suddenly, something snaked at him too.
******
Sakura held her breath as something wrapped around her waist...suddenly, she she felt her mouth open in a scream of pain as something punctured her. Sand poured in as she was pushed with great force upwards. Suddenly, she was in the air! Spitting sand, she saw Syaoran far below, and what seemed to be a huge tentacle trying to swat him flat. Another tentacle was around her like a thick creeper vine, and was trying to squeeze the life out of her. A large claw tipped the end, and it was this that had opened a nice wound in her hip. She screamed as it hurled her towards the ground.
****
Syaoran looked up frantically, it was trying to pound her to a pulp! Having warded off his attacker, he took off to save Sakura. Halting beneath her, he took his staff and jammed it into the base of the tentacle. It shuddered, and he pressed harder. There was a great rumble, and suddenly, the tentacle unraveled. Sakura fell, right into Syaoran's waiting arms. He carried her away, Piap running behind him. The group had reached a ridge, and just as they touched it, the sands began to drain away, almost like they were in a huge bucket with a hole at the bottom.
" What is that?!"
Peliopes looked on.
" Those are the feeding tentacles for the Caskeg."
Sakura looked up. As the sands cleared, she could see the bottom of the turtle. There were no flippers, but what seemed like a mass of huge snakes. The tentacles propelled it around, grasping at everything within it's reach.
" The Caskeg is constantly on the move, searching for a mate. It stops every half hour or so to send out a mating call, and to feed."
No sooner said, then the tentacles all withdrew into the shell. Out of the front, came a huge turtle head, which opened its mouth and let out a loud rumbling bellow. There was silence for a moment, and then, there was an answering cry from far to the north.
" How are we going to get there?"
" There should be a trolley line any minute..."
Something flew from the turtle towards them, imbedding itself inches from Gharen's head. It was an arrowhead, attached to a thick cable. Something puttered towards them on that cable.
" Our trolley."
Syaoran murmured something to Sakura, who nodded and got up. He tore off both sleeves of the tunic he wore, wrapping it around her waist. The trolley operator rushed to her aid, much to Syaoran's annoyance - not because he was being a gentleman, but because he shoved past everyone to do it.
" Oh, miss! Here!"
Syaoran glared a warning at the operator, but the boy only gave him a once over, followed by a triumphant grin. He escorted Sakura to a seat up front, leaving the rest of the group at the back. Syaoran was practically bristling, as the operator touched her leg gently - he wasn't hurt, so why did he have to use her for a brace to get up?! His distaste grew to venom, as he saw the boy wink at her. If it weren't for Peliopes sudden hand on his shoulder, forcing him to sheath his talons, he probably would have bashed in that harlot's head. Yes, harlot. The boy looked so ridiculously feminine, that would be the only word to describe him.
" I have some cream here, just for the occasion." Syaoran could feel his face grow very red, but it wasn't from embarassment," Got to watch out for that Caskeg."
The boy reached out to apply some, but Sakura pushed his hand away firmly.
" I can do it myself." She said simply.
" But, really Miss, I'd be happy to..."
" I CAN DO IT MYSELF." Her eyes narrowed very suddenly, a glare that could pierce a shield.
" Of course." He bowed, then handed her the cream, Syaoran smirking at his retreating back. Point score.
******
Sakura never trusted that boy for a second. His eyes were never on her face, constantly twitching. Nothing like Syaoran. When he spoke, his gaze was always on you. This cad seemed to be talking to her legs rather than to her - if he planned on winning anyone that way, he should go find a colony of storks. They certainly wouldn't care if he stared at their legs or not.
She was very much relieved when he went away, and Syaoran came to join her. The boy hadn't lied about one thing - the cream worked wonders. Almost immediately, the gash disappeared, almost as if it had never been there to start. She looked at it, then carefully slipped it into her bag. Could come in handy some day.
" So how long have you two been together?"
Sakura blinked. Oh. The boy again. He had this curious look on his face. She was tempted to say she was engaged already, but a voice beat her to the punch...
" We'll be married in the next Autumn."
******
Syaoran smirked as he saw the boy pale. Sakura's face was a different color too, red as rose blood, but he noticed she didn't make any move to protest. Just to add to the tension, Syaoran had to stopper a sharp breath of surprise as Sakura leaned her head into his shoulder, smiling winningly.
" Yes. For we love each other dearly."
******
Tamaya had to put a hand over her mouth, to keep the smile from breaking the moment. They were so believable. The trolley operator ignored them after that. He kept stammering to himself afterward, keeping his eyes towards the front of the trolley. A sudden thought - but was it all really just an act? Sakura didn't seem to mind using Syaoran for a head rest, and he didn't seem to be complaining either.
" That's probably as close as they'll get to saying anything." Gharen remarked, reading her face," For now."
The trolley came to a halt, and the boy bid each passenger farewell, ignoring Sakura and Syaoran. They didn't seem to care. They were somewhat caught up in their little charade. But, the moment was broken as Piap ran up, whining in apology. Sakura only smiled, pulling free of Syaoran's hand, and picking up the Digger.
" Silly. No, I'm fine. Just be careful next time."
******
Haha. That's good. Not much movement in the "questing" sense, but, oh well. Get that in next time.