Chapter 14 From the Frying Pan into the Fire
The four had been walking in companionable silence for sometime when Dana's head shot up and her face changed so drastically that Carter was at her side in a flash.
"Dana?" He asked and she turned her head as if hearing something he could not. "Dana what is it? What do you hear?"
"They're in trouble." She said in such a positive tone Carter didn't think of questioning her words.
"Guys lets move!" He barked and Dana was already spreading her arms out to her sides, one hand palm up the other down.
"Bat!"
"Phoenix!" Carter shouted arching his hands above his head then sweeping them down as if to push himself from the ground.
"Eagle!" Joel called not even questioning his friends. He knew that when Dana said there was something going on they better all be ready to do whatever she said. He then scooped Chad up by the shoulders and they were off.
***
She felt herself falling, spinning and flipping as she went. She knew it wasn't a normal fall. Normally she'd have kept going on her back but this was more like a free fall, like when she went parachuting. Too was the odd fact that she couldn't hear a thing, their was only silence. Kelsey tried to scream but there was nothing. She wondered absentmindedly if she could stop the fall but reaching out Kelsey found there was nothing to grab a hold of. The walls were cool and slick, and perfectly smooth.
***
"Dana!" Ryan called as the bat set down on the ground and became his sister. "She's gone."
"What? What do you mean gone?" Carter demanded turning from the Phoenix to himself as well.
"You said you wanted her forgotten and she is." A voice said and all turned to see a figure standing not ten feet away, silver hair blowing in an invisible breeze.
"What do you…?" Dana began completely confused and she nearly fell and Carter grabbed her arm.
"Kel…" Ryan whispered and Dana couldn't take the defeated sound of his voice.
"What happened?" She asked him softly and he didn't have a chance to answer as instead the woman replied.
"Did I not just tell you? You said you wished…" the figure said simply as if it all made perfect sense.
"I wanted to step back not to get rid of her." Ryan protested angrily, his fear and rage clawing at him. The feel of Dana's hand on his shoulder the only thing keeping him from snapping the figure's neck.
"But it's what you wanted." The silver haired image replied easily.
"No, I…" he began feeling sick, had he wanted to get rid of her? No, no, he wouldn't want to do that. Then the truth hit him with a frightening force.
"I love her."
"Well, then you only have a few minutes if you want to save her." The figure nodded and vanished.
"She was helpful." Chad muttered.
"Yeah, like a burr." Joel shook his head.
"Ok guys this won't help anyone." Carter broke in, as always being the sensible one.
"Right we need to get Kelsey back." Dana put in moving to her brother, this time avoiding the gaping hole in the ground.
"Well let's see we have a pit and no rope…" Joel frowned as Dana draped an arm around her brother's shoulders.
"Back at the campsite." Ryan called out as if coming out of a stooper. "There are the ropes we have in our gear."
"Chad get it." Carter said and the blue ranger nodded and headed off.
"I'm going in." Dana said then, stepping away from her brother. She could feel how upset he was, she felt the fear, pain and then the knowledge that if they didn't act soon Kelsey would be lost.
"What?" Carter frowned, had he heard her right? Did she want to jump down a pit to who knew where?
"I don't need to see and I can keep in contact." The lavender clad girl replied easily.
"Dana no." Carter moved to stop her but she was striking her pose.
"Bat!" And it was done. She hovered above them a moment, flapping her wings and waiting until she'd adjusted to her compact size.
"Dana no!" Ryan shouted as he watched the only other woman he loved disappear down into an abyss.
***
Ok, she really felt scared, it felt like she'd been falling forever and she had spun, flipped and flipped again so many times her belly ached. She knew that if it didn't stop soon she'd be really sick.
"Kelsey can you hear me?" The voice was everywhere and yet no where and Kelsey didn't know if she was just becoming delusional from the dizziness or if that was her friend.
"Dana!" She called in the hope it was her friend.
"Kel where are you?" Dana's voice called and Kelsey knew that it really was her friend.
"I don't know, I'm falling, and it's so dark."
"Can you see anything at all?" The question had it occurring to Kelsey that she was in Dana's shoes and she didn't like it one bit.
"No, it's too dark." She admitted.
"Don't worry I'm coming." Dana's voice said and it sounded like it was getting closer.
"Dana no, you'll just get lost." Kelsey knew from the unexpected silence Dana wasn't listening to her now, she was probably talking to the others so Kelsey just closed her eyes and tried not to puke.
***
The three men stood around the whole in the ground, Carter and Ryan couldn't take their eyes from the spot where the bat had gone.
"What do we do?"
"Nothing until Chad gets back."
"That's not enough."
"Guys, this won't help Dana or Kelsey now so just chill a sec, will you?"
"Wait, if we could hear her before…"
"Then maybe she can hear us."
"Dana!" Both men shouted in their heads, hoping this would be enough and then they heard it.
"I'm ok, I'm fine, and I can hear her." The soft voice came back, strong and unworried.
"Dana, can you stop falling?" Ryan asked his sister hoping that maybe they could at least get to her, she'd been nuts to dive in their like this.
"No, I'm going to find her." Came Dana's reply.
"No…" Ryan began but Carter cut him off.
"Then don't stop talking." He urged his girlfriend.
***
In the passage Dana's radar told her she was in a cylinder like area, there seemed to be no bottom to it but then she couldn't sense Kelsey so she couldn't be sure. She felt a little tired, her head spinning. She wished she was back home curled up in her nice warm bed and…
"Dana?" The voice of her best girlfriend called and the lavender ninjeti called back.
"I'm here."
"I'm scared." The voice sounded shaky and Dana frowned, she'd never heard Kelsey so upset in her life. She wished she could reach out and give her a big hug. True she wasn't big on the huggy thing, at least until lately but Kelsey sounded… then something hit her.
***
"Kelsey can you transform" Dana's voice was soothing, sure and steady as Kelsey felt so sick. The blackness and spinning was horrible, growing with every
Second.
"I don't know." What was her friend thinking?
"Give it a shot." The voice called back and Kelsey had no problem trusting that Dana had an idea.
"Right." Kelsey then forced herself into position for that split second. "The stallion!" Kelsey realized that for some reason the morph had slowed her descent and wanted to whoop in joy, maybe she'd be ok?
"Well?" Came Dana's voice and Kelsey knew she was getting closer.
"Yes, it's slowed the fall."
"Good, here's what I want you to do…"
***
"I can't hear her." Ryan paced, and then moved back to the pit, he wanted to just dive in but what good would that do? He wanted to throw his head back and howl at the fates for this, it wasn't fair! He'd just gotten his life back and now it was all falling away from him, into a deep endless hole.
"Ok, I'm going in." Carter announced from where he was tying the rope around his middle.
"No, I should go, their my women,"
"Have you told Kelsey that? Man she ain't no one's."
"Yeah and Dana…"
"Enough," Carter called as he finished. "Think about it, I can carry Kelsey if I find her."
"Right…" Joel agreed and Carter turned to Ryan. He looked so anxious.
"Ryan you are in charge until I get back. If I need you…" The red clad young man said and Ryan frowned, he didn't like this. He didn't like trusting someone else to save those he loved. But then he knew that this was Carter, the one person he could trust with his life, had lately.
"Bring them home." He said finally and Carter nodded.
"I will."
***
"Dana!" Kelsey called and then felt the rush of air.
"I'm right…" Dana began and then…
"Oof…" the silent voice of the yellow horse grunted as the bat slammed into it.
"Found you." Dana muttered needlessly.
"I'd say." Kelsey said and for the first time since she'd fallen she was laughing. Dana knew that it would look like something from a tacky cartoon. A bat and horse colliding.
"So it worked." Dana was glad, she'd not known if her plan would pan out.
"Looks like it." Kelsey said as she thought of how nice it would be too stretch when she was human again. She'd need it, although her long equestrian legs were rather stretched, as they were holding her in place as they spoke.
"Good, now…" Dana slowed her mind and sent out a call. She knew that she didn't have much time, her head hurt and her inner voice was hard to project from where ever they were. "Carter!"
"I'm on my way." Came the instant response.
"You're…" Dana felt a sigh of relief at the knowledge that he was coming after them. That he'd not let Ryan do this, he'd be to upset to think.
"I have a rope and I'll be there in…"
"Dana!" Her brother's shout nearly had her jumping out of her skin.
"Ryan, everything's ok, we'll be out soon enough." She managed to keep her inner voice steady.
"Kel's ok?" He asked and there was hope in his voice.
"Yes, she's right here." Dana said and she felt a little dizzy again.
"Tell her I'm sorry." Came the response to that bit of news.
"You'll have to; I don't want to waste the energy." She managed and felt a little better.
"Dana…" Came Ryan's voice, it was different and she was too tired to really wonder about it.
"Hmm?" She asked and wondered how far Carter was from them, she knew Kelsey couldn't do this indefinitely.
"I love you." The words were so soft she wasn't even sure she'd heard them, she wondered if the strain on her new powers was doing this to her.
"You two big brother." She said and hoped she'd heard him right.
"Dana!" Carter's vice cut into her thoughts and she was back into the moment.
"We're here." She called to him and he sounded right on top of them.
"Ok, I can see you." Came the voice and she then realized she could see him too.
"You..." Dana breathed; she saw the bright ball of energy.
"He's glowing…" Kelsey's mental voice was reverent and a little surprised.
"The phoenix, born from the fires." Carter sounded a little smug as he neared them.
"Great, so you gonna use that rope?" Kelsey asked and there was a pause.
"No, actually I want you to change back and I'll carry you out."
"No, it won't work." Dana argued frowning in her horse form.
"She's right; the moment I change back I'll be falling."
"No, I'll grab you before you can." Carter replied calmly.
"Ok, wait, let me have the rope." Dana told them and then she took it in her teeth and flew around Kelsey, forming a loupe. She then used her claws to tie the ends.
"Dana?" Ryan's voice was not exactly something she needed just then.
"Ryan, I'm a little busy right…" She made a second loupe.
"Dana?" Came Ryan's voice once more.
"Kel do it now!" Dana shouted to her friend and then flew clear.
"Human!" And Kelsey felt her hooves transforming into hands and feet once more, her spine solidifying into its natural state.
"Now get her out!" Dana shouted, flapping her wings franticly so not to be pulled down in the void beneath them.
***
"Damn it!" Ryan kicked at the dirt and then stalked away from the black hole.
"Hey I hear something!" Joel called anxiously and Ryan was back then, at the mouth of the hole.
"What?" Chad was asking and then he too heard the flapping of wings.
"Carter!" Ryan shouted aloud and Kelsey sent back.
"Just hold your horses will you? This isn't exactly the easiest ride I've ever been on." That disgruntled voice was the sweetest sound Ryan had ever heard and as he watched the Phoenix rising from the pit he smiled, it was all going to be just fine, he'd not lost her. His stupid words hadn't cost him her…
"Gees someone want to turn out the sun?"
"Never…" Ryan had her in his arms. "Do that to me again." His mouth clamped down on hers with a fierce hunger that had Kelsey shivering and wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Well, things are back to normal." Chad shook his head in amusement.
"Almost." Chad laughed as he saw Carter pulling Dana off to one side. T Their leader looked fit to be tied.
"Carter?" Dana asked, what was he thinking? She could feel the tension in his big body and knew he was not a happy camper. Ok, so he'd said not to go in but what could she have done? She couldn't just let Kelsey die… She felt her legs turning to jelly and began to sway.
"Dana?"
"I'm, I'm just a little tired." She mumbled.
"Here, here." Chad said as he lay his vest down so Carter could sit Dana down on it.
"Thanks guys." Dana breathed even as the world swam.
"Hey Dana?" Came another voice and she could barely make out her brother's tone. He sounded worried but she couldn't remember why. What was going on?
"Exhausted..." Was that Carter?
"Rest…" that voice sounded familiar but who was it? It was so blurry, as everything was…
***
"We'll need to set up camp." Chad said and Carter nodded grimly, he didn't know what was going on but the best he could gather was the time she'd spent as the bat and the mental communication… Suddenly he felt a little lightheaded and then he knew…
"Ryan…"
"Yeah? Help them I'm…"
"No problem."
"Are you ok?"
"Yeah, just a little tired."
"You're not used to the transforming and spiritual communication." Chad said and he and Joel went back to get things ready. Kelsey was checking Dana's vitals, she had never been happier she knew how. She too felt a little dizzy but she'd not been so long transformed as the others so she'd be ok.
"You can go give them a hand I'll stay with them." The yellow clad girl told the other coherent member of their small group.
"I'm not going…"
"Ryan, we all need to rest so you should help, it will be faster this way." She urged and when she saw the worried look in his silver eyes she reached out a hand and rested it on his arm.
"I'm fine, and I'm not going anywhere."
Ryan knew she was right; the image of her disappearing was just too fresh in his mind. Still he knew his sister and friend needed him to do this, to go and help so he got to his feet and went.
***
By the time camp was reestablished and they were all settled Dana and the other two who'd gone into the hole were worn out. True they'd not had to help
But they were still tired.
"Hey how about a drink?" Ryan asked sitting down beside Kelsey and she nodded wanly.
"That would be great."
"Here." He uncapped it, and handed to her.
"Thanks." She said and took a drink. Heavens it tasted good but everything did after that hole in the ground.
"Feeling better?" He asked when she recapped it and handed it back to him.
"Yeah." She said and lay back down again. She knew she could sit up but she was just so tired.
"So want to tell me what happened?" He asked lying down on his side facing her. He didn't want her to think he was looming over her. He hated when people did that to him.
"What happened?" Kelsey thought a long moment and then shrugged as best she could lying down.
"To tell you the truth I'm not sure, one minute you were dumping me and…" Kelsey shivered at the memory of her sudden decent. One minute she'd been on solid ground and then…
"Kel I just didn't want…" His words, sounding slightly unlike Ryan brought her back to the moment.
"Look it doesn't matter, it's over." She said briskly and moved to sit up.
"Kelsey, no, no it's not. I was stupid." He argued pushing her back down, she'd gone deathly pale at the memory and then had turned red with the new topic. Being that they didn't know just what might happen if they were over taxed he didn't want her risking it.
"No, you were right so much is…" She argued still trying to get up. She hated talking when she was laying down, at least he wasn't' looming over her though.
"I love you so it's not." Ryan said laying everything on the line. He could tell he'd hurt her very badly and he didn't like that idea. He loved her and couldn't lose her now.
"You…" her eyes flew to his face in surprise. Did he just say that he loved her? Did he? Why?
"I love you." He said again and the words sounded just right, and he felt as if he'd waited his entire life to say them to her. "And it scares the hell
Out of me." He confessed in shame. He had not wanted to admit that but she might leave if he couldn't explain about before.
"Oh," Kelsey felt as if a window between them had just been opened. The whole scene taken in this light made perfect sense.
"Yeah, I think that's why I pushed you away." He went on oblivious to her new understanding. He new he had to fix this.
"People do that when they're scared." Kelsey said quietly.
"But Kel, I didn't mean to." He said as if not even hearing her.
"I know." She said and this time instead of trying to sit up she took his hand in hers. He realized then she was not pissed or hurt any longer. Then his eyes narrowed a little. .
"So what's wrong?" Ryan asked looking over at her pretty face.
"I just keep thinking about that hole, it just reminded me of…" She shuddered and he moved closer and gave her hand a squeeze
"Hey, what?" He asked softly taking her other hand as well.
"Have you ever heard of an oubliette?" She asked thoughtfully.
"Yes, the demons had a few in the torture chambers." He said and the images of the underlings who were callously tossed into the depths of the darkness made him shiver.
"I think that's kind of what it was. An endless pit, where people go when they're to be forgotten." She said slowly and he felt sick, so the being had been right. Had His wanting to step back done that…?
"That makes sense." He said at last and she frowned over at him.
"It does?"
"You said you wanted her forgotten and she is." The voice echoed in his mind and she felt even sicker.
"Yeah." He would have pulled away but she caught his hands again holding him there.
"Hey, what's wrong?" She asked gently.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry you ever had to go through that." Ryan said and his voice was horse with the pain of the trouble she'd been in because of him. Why couldn't he do anything right? But had he ever? Then to his surprise He found himself in a pair of warm arms and her soft voice was saying.
"Ryan, I'm ok, I'm ok." She was stroking his hair too; he felt that as the tears broke free. Tears of pain, of fear and of shame. "It's ok." She whispered into his cheek.
***
"Hey, I should um…" Dana said hearing the sobbing. She knew it was Ryan and knew he was hurting. No one should ever have to hurt anyone.
"Just rest, you've had a real time of it today." Carter said pulling her back down to lay beside him. He knew she was still very weak and he didn't want her to pass out or anything. She scared him whenever she did that. Lately she'd been scaring him way too much.
"Me? Carter you act like you didn't go down into the pit." She shot back still trying to get up.
"Yes but you were down there much longer." He said and shifted so she was laying with her cheek on his chest.
"You know, we're going to have to talk about this protectiveness." She said chastizingly as she gave in.
"Ryan?" She sent silently to her brother.
"Dana?" Even that voice sounded weak. She felt her heart breaking.
"Ryan what's wrong?" She asked softly and there was a sick feeing in her belly as she felt woozy.
"Dana?" There was concern in the silent voice and she felt it coming the nausea welling up.
"I have to oh..." She was pushing away from carter and stumbling a few feet away before her breakfast decided to visit the ground.
Carter felt not sickness at the sight of her like this but fear, what was happening to her? He didn't think, just went to her, holding her forehead and waiting as she continued to wretch for long moments.
***
Ryan felt the connection snap and alarm went through him; Dana had never done that before.
"Ryan?" Kelsey asked even as she heard it and both looked as one at their friend.
"Dana." They were both up and heading for her when Kelsey's les buckled from beneath her.
"Kelsey!" Ryan caught her and was striding to the spot where they'd been resting.
"Ryan, I don't feel so well." The yellow clad girl whimpered and was also rather ill.
"What's going on?" Ryan called to Chad who seemed to know more than they did but the blue dressed boy shook his head.
"I don't know!"
"Carter?" Joel called even as he saw the man going down.
"Carter!" Chad was catching him even as his partner had to catch Dana before she fell to the ground.
TBC
***
"Yay! Finally I fixed what I wanted too. I hope things are easier on he eyes. *dances around*
Ok and now to post the new addition…