AN: Quick correction before you can begin. At the moment there are TWO people reading this, sorry Sil! Because i hadn't heard from you - save for the time you reviewed - i wasn't sure whether you were still reading. :D Glad to know that you're still there and hope that this is so far living up to everybody's expectations! More at the bottom.
Chapter 4: Cold touch.
Dame Skyla had not been prepared for this.
She had sensed that something was amiss in the Music Room and had come down quite prepared to either chase out some of the more curious students or find one her Skydancers. She knew that Jade in particular liked to come here when she wanted to think. She would never in her wildest dreams have thought that she'd find who she did.
"Joanie wait!" Pushing herself up from where she had fallen on the steps Skyla gathered up her night gown and quickly tried to follow the girl.
Whirl and Twirl were two steps behind her, their behavior growing stranger by the minute. When they reached the bottom of the stairs they bounded after the girl, acting as if they were playing with her.
"Heel you two!" Dame Skyla commanded. "Joanie please, wait!"
It was too late for that request.
Joanie had already managed to open one of the windows and vaulted through. Dame Skyla reached the window just in time to see the girl stumble onto the snow, scramble up and ran in the direction of the forest.
"Damn it." The woman cursed softly and climbed through the window as well. Whirl and Twirl jumped through with ease. The three of them gave chase until the light from the Music Room disappeared. Loosing sight of the tracks Skyla paused and tried to call the girl again but no avail.
Frowning, she rubbed her hands over her arms; trying to fend off the pressing cold. The snow was falling so densely now that she could barely make out the tree line in front of her.
Whirl and Twirl sat next to her, still whining with excitement. The woman shook her head and hunched next to them, running her cold fingers through their hair.
"What's gotten into you two?" She whispered softly. "You frightened her."
She tried one last time to call out to the girl before she stood up.
"Whirl, follow her baby." She commanded the dog as she rested her hand on the other. "We'll come and find you as soon as I get some extra help."
The dog barked excited and bounded off. Twirl wanted to follow but Skyla motioned for him to follow her as she returned to the Music Room.
"Stay with me my pet." She said quickly and tapped her leg. "You're the only one who'll be able to follow them if this snow carries on coming down like this."
"Man but she made waves." Slam said as he struggled to keep his balance in the thick snow. "How can one move that fast in a mess like this?"
Breeze shook his head in marvel. "Either she ran very light, or she's very fit." He said, his breath like a cloud in front of him. "You said that you know her?"
He glanced at Skyla.
The woman paused and shone her torch on the fast disappearing tracks. "I only met her today or rather yesterday." She glanced at her watch. "She helped me with the shopping."
Slam, who was walking in front, glanced back at them. "How do you think she managed to get here?" He queried.
Skyla shook her head. "My guess would be in the back of the truck." She said. "She must've snuck in when we weren't paying attention. Where's Twirl?"
The two boys stopped and looked around. "Yo, Twirl!" Slam shouted. "Give us a bark boy!"
They were rewarded by two twin barks.
"Finally." Breeze breathed. "Come on!"
The two boys trotted – or near enough – ahead of Dame Skyla.
She found them a few moments later, kneeling next to something in the snow. Frowning, she approached them slowly. "Have they lost the scent?" She asked.
Breeze turned around and moved a bit to the side, revealing the two dogs.
"No, they found her." He said, his voice tense with worry. "She's down."
Shining her light on what they were kneeling over, Dame Skyla realized that Whirl and Twirl were lying in the snow each snuggled up next to a motionless figure.
"Oh no." She said softly. "Damn it."
Kneeling next to the party, Dame Skyla motioned for Whirl and Twirl to stand up. The girl was lying in the snow – apparently unconscious.
The woman turned her on her back and checked her breathing.
"She's wheezing." She said hurriedly. "Come on; let's get her back to the academy."
Breeze took off his jacket and carefully wrapped it around the young girl. With Slam's help he managed to pick her up and get his footing. He gave Skyla a worried look.
"She's very thin." He said as they started heading back. "And very cold."
Slam was lighting the way ahead of Breeze as Dame Skyla kept her torch light on Joanie's face. "I had noticed back in town." She said. "I think she's sick as well. Jade's waiting for us back in the Music Room with blankets; I woke her when Twirl went to get you."
The boys nodded. They carried on in silence till they reached the Music Room.
Jade was already waiting for them, clutching a blanket to her chest. She was still dressed in her sleep wear, her pitch black hair pulled back into a loose braid.
She stood back as they came to the door, her eyes dancing over the still form in Breeze's arms.
"What happened?" She asked.
Dame Skyla motioned for her to put the blanket on the floor.
"Put her on the blanket Breeze." She said as she turned of her torch. "I'm not sure. Easy now, mind her head."
Cradling her gently Breeze slowly pulled his arms out from underneath her as he rested Joanie on the ground. Dame Skyla felt for the girl's pulse, immediately noticing how cold she was to touch. Breeze brought his head close to her chest, listening to her hindered breathing. His dark eyes were troubled as he looked up at Skyla.
"It sounds as if there's water on her lungs." He stated.
The woman frowned. "Pneumonia." She stated softly.
Slam cursed softly. "Had that once." He stated. "Not pleasant. Should I go call the doctor?"
Dame Skyla's eyes were anxious as she rested a hand on Joanie's forehead.
"He took the weekend off." She replied. "He's not here."
Jade, who had tentatively touched Joanie's cheek, sat back. "We should do something to get her warm." She stated, her voice thin with emotion. "She's very cold."
Dame Skyla nodded absently as she started to wrap the blankets around the unresponsive child. "Did you bring anymore blankets Jade?" She queried distracted.
The girl frowned slightly at her tone. "Yeah, at least two more." She said. "I didn't exactly know what to expect." She glanced at Slam who was shivering slightly. "And, I thought that you would like some as well."
Skyla shook her head. "There's not time for that." She said, her voice clearer. "Breeze, can you carry her again or should Slam or I take her?"
The Indian boy nodded. "I can do it." He stated self assured.
Dame Skyla nodded as she stood up. "Good." She said. "Slam, take another blanket and help Breeze wrap her up. Jade, lock up this door and window. I'll get the entrance."
The three youths, use to the routine, looked up startled.
"You're taking her the wingdom?" Breeze asked surprised.
The woman nodded over a distance. "It's the only way." She said. "The Tinker can help her, we can't – not till the roads are cleared and we can get off of the mountain."
The three shared a look.
"Okey docey." Slam breathed and ran his hand through his hair. "This is going to be interesting."
AN: Firstly, there might be some inaccuracies concerning snow and cold weather. You must understand, I come from a sunny country where the coldest temperatures I've ever had to brave were about 0 degrees Celsius. Please don't call my bluff! ;-P
I was recently struck down by a wave of misfortune (flu) and spend a whole day laying in front of the television feeling extremely sorry for myself. I ended up watching Cartoon Network for the first time in my life and came to the conclusion that they don't make cartoons the way they use to. Maybe it's just because I'm really too old for the stuff but what happened to the quality?! Powerpuff Girls? Samuri Jack? Ed Edd 'n Eddy?! THE CRAMP TWINS!!! What has happened the Gummi Bears, Duck Tales, X-Men, Skydancers ;-) or DragonFlyze? Hell, I'd even settle for Beverly Hill Teens. (Though, mind you it's way down on the list). I can understand what's happening to today's youth or most of them anyway. They're not getting the right education! There's no more Good wins Evil in the classic style of Gummi Bears, nor heart felt stories as in Winnie the Pooh. It's really really sad. All I saw was terrible characters with no depth or background, appalling grammar, no respect for their elders and terrible animation. What frightens me is that i have a niece a little under a year old. What sort of progarms will she have to watch to by the time she can appreciate television? Frightening thought.
Am I the only one who feels this way or, do you agree?
I just wanted to share this thought because I really had a culture shock. Thanks for reading!
Alyssa
-;--
Chapter 4: Cold touch.
Dame Skyla had not been prepared for this.
She had sensed that something was amiss in the Music Room and had come down quite prepared to either chase out some of the more curious students or find one her Skydancers. She knew that Jade in particular liked to come here when she wanted to think. She would never in her wildest dreams have thought that she'd find who she did.
"Joanie wait!" Pushing herself up from where she had fallen on the steps Skyla gathered up her night gown and quickly tried to follow the girl.
Whirl and Twirl were two steps behind her, their behavior growing stranger by the minute. When they reached the bottom of the stairs they bounded after the girl, acting as if they were playing with her.
"Heel you two!" Dame Skyla commanded. "Joanie please, wait!"
It was too late for that request.
Joanie had already managed to open one of the windows and vaulted through. Dame Skyla reached the window just in time to see the girl stumble onto the snow, scramble up and ran in the direction of the forest.
"Damn it." The woman cursed softly and climbed through the window as well. Whirl and Twirl jumped through with ease. The three of them gave chase until the light from the Music Room disappeared. Loosing sight of the tracks Skyla paused and tried to call the girl again but no avail.
Frowning, she rubbed her hands over her arms; trying to fend off the pressing cold. The snow was falling so densely now that she could barely make out the tree line in front of her.
Whirl and Twirl sat next to her, still whining with excitement. The woman shook her head and hunched next to them, running her cold fingers through their hair.
"What's gotten into you two?" She whispered softly. "You frightened her."
She tried one last time to call out to the girl before she stood up.
"Whirl, follow her baby." She commanded the dog as she rested her hand on the other. "We'll come and find you as soon as I get some extra help."
The dog barked excited and bounded off. Twirl wanted to follow but Skyla motioned for him to follow her as she returned to the Music Room.
"Stay with me my pet." She said quickly and tapped her leg. "You're the only one who'll be able to follow them if this snow carries on coming down like this."
"Man but she made waves." Slam said as he struggled to keep his balance in the thick snow. "How can one move that fast in a mess like this?"
Breeze shook his head in marvel. "Either she ran very light, or she's very fit." He said, his breath like a cloud in front of him. "You said that you know her?"
He glanced at Skyla.
The woman paused and shone her torch on the fast disappearing tracks. "I only met her today or rather yesterday." She glanced at her watch. "She helped me with the shopping."
Slam, who was walking in front, glanced back at them. "How do you think she managed to get here?" He queried.
Skyla shook her head. "My guess would be in the back of the truck." She said. "She must've snuck in when we weren't paying attention. Where's Twirl?"
The two boys stopped and looked around. "Yo, Twirl!" Slam shouted. "Give us a bark boy!"
They were rewarded by two twin barks.
"Finally." Breeze breathed. "Come on!"
The two boys trotted – or near enough – ahead of Dame Skyla.
She found them a few moments later, kneeling next to something in the snow. Frowning, she approached them slowly. "Have they lost the scent?" She asked.
Breeze turned around and moved a bit to the side, revealing the two dogs.
"No, they found her." He said, his voice tense with worry. "She's down."
Shining her light on what they were kneeling over, Dame Skyla realized that Whirl and Twirl were lying in the snow each snuggled up next to a motionless figure.
"Oh no." She said softly. "Damn it."
Kneeling next to the party, Dame Skyla motioned for Whirl and Twirl to stand up. The girl was lying in the snow – apparently unconscious.
The woman turned her on her back and checked her breathing.
"She's wheezing." She said hurriedly. "Come on; let's get her back to the academy."
Breeze took off his jacket and carefully wrapped it around the young girl. With Slam's help he managed to pick her up and get his footing. He gave Skyla a worried look.
"She's very thin." He said as they started heading back. "And very cold."
Slam was lighting the way ahead of Breeze as Dame Skyla kept her torch light on Joanie's face. "I had noticed back in town." She said. "I think she's sick as well. Jade's waiting for us back in the Music Room with blankets; I woke her when Twirl went to get you."
The boys nodded. They carried on in silence till they reached the Music Room.
Jade was already waiting for them, clutching a blanket to her chest. She was still dressed in her sleep wear, her pitch black hair pulled back into a loose braid.
She stood back as they came to the door, her eyes dancing over the still form in Breeze's arms.
"What happened?" She asked.
Dame Skyla motioned for her to put the blanket on the floor.
"Put her on the blanket Breeze." She said as she turned of her torch. "I'm not sure. Easy now, mind her head."
Cradling her gently Breeze slowly pulled his arms out from underneath her as he rested Joanie on the ground. Dame Skyla felt for the girl's pulse, immediately noticing how cold she was to touch. Breeze brought his head close to her chest, listening to her hindered breathing. His dark eyes were troubled as he looked up at Skyla.
"It sounds as if there's water on her lungs." He stated.
The woman frowned. "Pneumonia." She stated softly.
Slam cursed softly. "Had that once." He stated. "Not pleasant. Should I go call the doctor?"
Dame Skyla's eyes were anxious as she rested a hand on Joanie's forehead.
"He took the weekend off." She replied. "He's not here."
Jade, who had tentatively touched Joanie's cheek, sat back. "We should do something to get her warm." She stated, her voice thin with emotion. "She's very cold."
Dame Skyla nodded absently as she started to wrap the blankets around the unresponsive child. "Did you bring anymore blankets Jade?" She queried distracted.
The girl frowned slightly at her tone. "Yeah, at least two more." She said. "I didn't exactly know what to expect." She glanced at Slam who was shivering slightly. "And, I thought that you would like some as well."
Skyla shook her head. "There's not time for that." She said, her voice clearer. "Breeze, can you carry her again or should Slam or I take her?"
The Indian boy nodded. "I can do it." He stated self assured.
Dame Skyla nodded as she stood up. "Good." She said. "Slam, take another blanket and help Breeze wrap her up. Jade, lock up this door and window. I'll get the entrance."
The three youths, use to the routine, looked up startled.
"You're taking her the wingdom?" Breeze asked surprised.
The woman nodded over a distance. "It's the only way." She said. "The Tinker can help her, we can't – not till the roads are cleared and we can get off of the mountain."
The three shared a look.
"Okey docey." Slam breathed and ran his hand through his hair. "This is going to be interesting."
AN: Firstly, there might be some inaccuracies concerning snow and cold weather. You must understand, I come from a sunny country where the coldest temperatures I've ever had to brave were about 0 degrees Celsius. Please don't call my bluff! ;-P
I was recently struck down by a wave of misfortune (flu) and spend a whole day laying in front of the television feeling extremely sorry for myself. I ended up watching Cartoon Network for the first time in my life and came to the conclusion that they don't make cartoons the way they use to. Maybe it's just because I'm really too old for the stuff but what happened to the quality?! Powerpuff Girls? Samuri Jack? Ed Edd 'n Eddy?! THE CRAMP TWINS!!! What has happened the Gummi Bears, Duck Tales, X-Men, Skydancers ;-) or DragonFlyze? Hell, I'd even settle for Beverly Hill Teens. (Though, mind you it's way down on the list). I can understand what's happening to today's youth or most of them anyway. They're not getting the right education! There's no more Good wins Evil in the classic style of Gummi Bears, nor heart felt stories as in Winnie the Pooh. It's really really sad. All I saw was terrible characters with no depth or background, appalling grammar, no respect for their elders and terrible animation. What frightens me is that i have a niece a little under a year old. What sort of progarms will she have to watch to by the time she can appreciate television? Frightening thought.
Am I the only one who feels this way or, do you agree?
I just wanted to share this thought because I really had a culture shock. Thanks for reading!
Alyssa
-;--