Not Over Yet
The Shagin were beginning to fall back, the painful cries of their master calling them to its aid.
(That's right...We'll get through this quicker then I thought.) Lhinx smirked and began going towards where the main target was.
(I can't make a jump attack without getting in the way of Zephyr's or any of the other's attacks. I'll just have to make due with the "minnows" that keep flopping up on deck.)
Though there were fewer coming on board, the Sahagin were still a threat. The Ronso continued to fight the creatures, hoping her effort to keep them distracted would be enough for the others to finish the serpent off.
…
Zephyr just threw the pair of deadly orbs into the crowd before them, and the monsters fell dead in a flash. She patted her many pockets and realized that she was out of lightning orbs, which could easily mean trouble if more of the minion fiends came. She readied her gun, prepared to use the barrel designed for simple bullets to bring down any more Sahagins that came her way.
…
Serenity had finished off a group of Sahagin that had surrounded her when she heard Lhinx and Silver yell to attack the serpent, the leader of the group, and take out its eyes. She ran over in time to see Zephyr's flash grenades hit the serpent and render it useless for the time being now that it was blinded. They had to finish it off before the status completely disappeared. She looked around to see Lhinx and Zephyr busy fending off the rest of the Sahagins, and figured it was up to the rest of them to finish it off. Serenity pointed her guns at the blinded serpent and readied herself to pull off a Trigger Happy with two guns instead of the usual one.
"Trigger Happy," Serenity whispered, and started firing bullets after bullets into the already heavily injured fiend. It pierced past its previously ripped flesh from Zephyr's lightning gem with ease and entered straight into its body, threatening to come out through the other side and tear the fiend into two.
…
(Ah screw it.) Lhinx thought. (If I can get it down to such a weak state with my jump attack, and maybe manage to stay on it's head or something for a while...I know I can jump back....well, only one way to find out.)
The Ronso ran to the edge of the boat, and jumped high into the air, her ascent halting too high for anyone on the boat to see and her descent going faster, her pole axe pointed down at the creature's head.
(Here it comes!) Lhinx thought eagerly, feeling that rush of adrenaline and the thrill of the hunt that her Ronso given animal nature brought on.
Upon contact with the head, Lhinx felt her weapon's edge break the bone near the top of the head between the eyes and go all the way to what she hoped was the creature's brain.
The Ronso pulled out her weapon, breaking out even more shards of bone. The creature threw its head back, making Lhinx lose her balance. Her left hand quickly grabbed at the semi rock like scales, her right hand still holding her weapon.
(This isn't going exactly as I had hoped...) The Ronso thought as she struggled just to keep her grip as the head thrashed around in pain.
The Ronso youth looked to the boat and waited until the precise moment she could position her feet just right to jump back to the boat.
(I gotta do it quickly....who knows how long it will take this thing got reason itself into going back under water?)
It was then, for a split second, her Ronso instinct moved both her feet near her left hand, gaining some more support during the terrible jostling.
(Alright...here we go.) The Ronso gulped and during one final thrash of the serpent's head, the Ronso's next move was almost in perfect sync with the creature's yowl like hiss. Lhinx jettisoned off the creature's head and went flying towards the boat. Instinct yet again took over as she flipped herself to make her feet hit the deck. The jump had been rather strong though, what with her arms having to come forward quickly to stop her face from meeting the deck.
(How embarrassing would that have been, I wonder...) The Ronso thought. (A Ronso falling face first after jumping...I'd never hear the end of it.)
…
Zephyr watched as the creature thrashed in the water, in its death throes. Its minions literally leapt off of the sides of the boat to attend to their master, but the halfling knew it was too late. She smiled and clipped her gun to her belt, brushing her hands off against one another with a satisfying smacking noise.
"Great job, everyone!" she cried. "We killed that bastard dead! With that level of teamwork, we'll be able to tackle any fiend that comes our way!"
…
Serenity eventually let out a laugh, and smiled at the rest of the group. She held up her guns and blew the smoke out of them before twirling them playfully back into their holsters. Looking around to make sure the others were all right, she walked over to Lhinx and bent down beside her. "Hey, you okay? That looked like a hard fall."
…
Just then Silver remembered his wound. With his effort in the fight it had opened even more, blood rolling down. He stood in his knees, closing his eyes as the pain engulfed him. Then he stood up, trying to be strong and re-joined his gun with the blade. He walked towards the others, the scarf already off his face. "Well... to Kilika now..."
…
(A little too hard. I gotta be more careful...)
"Lhinx okay." Lhinx said as she stood up. Instantly, her legs almost faltered, getting used to the weight that they were supposed to be able to carry. "Monster dead, right?"
…
"No!" Calix hollered as he watched his flute slurp into the deep green water, in one swift motion his staff was out of his hands and his trench coat on top it. Unfortunately it took a bit longer to remove his pants, even though they are baggy, but within a few seconds Calix was on the stern railing, preparing to jump in.
…
Serenity looked up at the Ronso and nodded. "Yes, the fiend's been destroyed." She smiled then looked over to Silver, who had walked over and joined them. He seemed to be pained and Serenity scanned over his body to trace it. She posed the same question to him. "Are you okay, Silver?", before turning her head at the person who yelled, "No!", now ready to jump off the boat into the water.
…
Silver was about to answer with a solemn nod when he heard the man and turned to him, a shiver of pain climbing up his spine. "What now!?"
…
Zephyr blinked and turned to Calix, who was about to jump into the water. She then glanced back at the body of the serpent, still bobbing on the surface. The water close to it churned with the green scales of countless minion fiends.
"Calix, you dumbass!" she cried, running down the stairs and to the deck next to him. "The water's swarming with fiends! What are you thinking!?"
…
The Ronso looked at Silver.
(That smell. The blood again...) Lhinx could feel the hair on the back of her neck rise. (He should be healed by tomorrow, if the rumors of demons I always hear are true.)
The splash of someone jumping overboard caught her attention, whirling her head around just in time to see the slight pillar of water the diver had made disappear.
(Uh oh...)
…
Calix didn't wait to reply. He dove directly into the warm depths of tropic sea headfirst. With out a care for the monsters, Calix swam with all his force to get to the location where he presumed the flute to be.
…
The half-Guado sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. "If he doesn't come up in two minutes, I'm going in . . ." she muttered, and started counting to herself in her head. One . . . ten . . . twenty . . . thirty . . .
…
Soon after his sleek body entered the water the Sahagin were hot on his trail, looking for revenge on their leader. Once about half way to where he thought his flute should be, the fiends had almost caught up and he realized he had left his staff behind. Why don't you go and be rational about it and leave your staff behind? Fool. Calix thought and he tried to quicken his pace.
…
Silver just smiled as he saw how worried Zephyr was about him.
Time for you to do your stuff, tough guy...
Silver took off his scarf, throwing it away along with the gunblade and jumped into the water like he did the day before. This time, his wound was filled with salty water, making the pain a lot stronger as we swam after the man.
You're a better swimmer, but let him do whatever he is trying; you just look after that monster...
…
(What's that idiot thinking?!) The Ronso thought frantically, though her face was still that of a stone-like Ronso. (I can't go in after him because of the fiends, but I should because of the fiends.)
She then saw Silver run past and jump in as well.
The Ronso cursed inwardly.
(You're both mad.)
The Ronso ran to the side, looking into he water.
(They should be okay. But that blood'll attract every fiend in there all the way from Bikanel.)
The Ronso stepped back a bit and then ran, jumping over the guardrail and into the water.
(I'll see what happens and back them up if the need comes.)
…
Zephyr wasn't worried about Calix so much as terminally annoyed. Nevertheless, she knew that he was an asset to the group - moreover, an asset to herself.
Forty . . . fifty . . . sixty . . . that was a minute that had passed.
"Come on. . ." she muttered irritably as she tugged off her vest and kicked her boots off of her black-socked feet. She then pulled her leather gloves off her hands, which were characteristically overlarge, nails silver-blue and clawlike - typical of a Guado or halfling.
…
Silver noticed the Sahagins and took off his gloves. Time for his claws to do the trick. He dove underwater, following the fiends that were on the man's trail and managed to catch on, slashing it. Unfortunately the rest caught onto his blood trail and some reached for him.
Damn monsters...
He swam faster, and back to the surface, trying to call the fiend's attention.
…
(Ah, so that's his game.) The Ronso thought.
The blue-gray furred creature swam quickly toward many Sahagin that saw the half-demon as a potential meal. The Ronso flexed her claws and began slashing at the soft belly of the monsters, the red blood of them drifting around her.
(I'm glad I can't smell under water, but I don't have much time under here.) Lhinx thought frantically.
More Sahagin came, the blank, grotesque look in their fish eye becoming more evident with the longer time the Ronso spent under water.
After whirling around and kicking one of many away with her foot, the Ronso swam quickly up to the surface.
…
Calix dove deeper and deeper under the water level, the dark lagoon of a sandy bottom slowly veered its way into sight, but still no sign of the flute. He swam franticly to find his hand on the bottom of the ocean. His eyes darted back and forth as he spun around looking for his dearest treasure, until finally a glinting beam of light caught his eye. Calix kicked off the sandy and weak floor, so he would be able to actually get to the flute before he ran out of air.
…
Silver smiled at the Ronso and helped her slashing down enemies, blood everywhere. The pain was really intense but he was already getting used to it. Silver looked down and saw the man. He got worried, he could manage not to breathe for almost an hour as he was a blitzer, but he wasn't sure about Lhinx or the guy they were trying to help
…
Serenity watched as Silver jumped in, followed by Lhinx. She ran over to the side, noticing Zephyr getting ready to jump in as well. "You can't possibly…" Serenity started, but never finished her sentence. The others did, why not her as well? She watched as the Sahagin came in swarms and went after the trio underwater. Serenity shook her head and loaded one of her guns with more ammo. "Scattershot," Serenity said, and fired bullets into the water at Sahagin farther away from the group as to not hurt her friends in the water, and hopefully stop more from getting over and reaching them.
…
Lhinx gulped in the refreshing air, feeling a bite to her foot and many others to her legs. The Ronso clenched her teeth and slashed at any of the Sahagin who dared come near, one after the other.
(I'm getting a bit tired. I haven't had to fight under water for quite some time.)
The Ronso let out a roar and thrashed at yet another Sahagin and went under water, partially by her own volition, the other part the fiends that drug her down.
Her roar came out in a bubble of precious air, which surfaced quickly. The Ronso lashed at many more the fiends, turning around and around again and again, getting dizzy with each attack. And with each attack, her lungs began to beg for air.
The Ronso swam quickly to the surface and gulped in more air.
…
Silver swam towards Lhinx as fast as he was able, slashing the fiends on his way. With a last glance at the other guy he got to his Ronso friend and bit the closest attacker. As he tried to free her from all the fiends surrounding he got bitten once or twice, and then on his tail. He suddenly felt filled with anger and slashed the monster that attacked him madly, turning it into a pile of dead meat.
…
Zephyr began counting aloud after a little while. "One ten. . . one twenty," she muttered. "Alright, dumbass, I'm coming for you." She still wore her jeans and turtleneck, but the rest of her clothing, her belt, and her glasses were all on deck. The halfling took three deep breaths, holding the last one in her lungs, and leapt with an odd grace into the water. She wasn't a particularly strong swimmer, but her body was relatively streamlined and her hands and feet, being rather large, were practically designed to be used as flippers.
It wasn't too long before she caught sight of Calix. He looked as if he was about to pass out, but she waited for him to get his flute - wherever it was. It looked as if he had it in sight.
In anticipation of his running out of air, she kept herself from using up too much of the oxygen in her lungs. . .
…
"Thanks." Lhinx said briefly as she slashed at yet another.
(I come in to help him, he helps me instead...some body guard I'll be if I live through this...) The Ronso thought, a bit unhappy with herself.
…
"There's…so many!" Serenity said and bit her bottom lip, firing bullets into the water, each bullet hitting 3 Sahagin at a time due to the effects of Scattershot. But when one died, it was like 5 took its place. "Come on! Get out of there!" Serenity yelled, volleying out more shots as she saw Zephyr jump into the fray as well. Serenity got out her other gun, refilled it with ammo as well, and shot with both guns with Scattershot. We'll be lucky to reach Kilika in once piece!
…
The Ronso yowled angrily, slashing at the hordes.
(Where the heck is that guy?) Lhinx wondered, referring to Calix. (We need to get back on board soon, otherwise these things will eat us.)
…
"What are friends for if not to share some fresh sushi?" He joked, smiling at the Ronso. "Ok, I'm diving under you and helping you on the boat again, then I'm going after those two lovebirds, ok?" Silver didn't wait for her response and dove under Lhinx, pushing her feet up and making her fly high out of the water. He then went down, going after the Guado and her young friend, slashing whatever on his way.
…
Calix drew closer and closer to his precious tool of the international language called music. His hand stretched out to full length until... he felt the smooth metal in his grasp. Once the flute was once again his Calix noticed the large cloud of blood at the surface of the water, and he noticed Zephyr. With out wasting any more time, and or air Calix kicked off the ground heading for the surface, but around halfway to the surface, Calix had passed out and began a slow flotation to the surface.
…
Even before Calix passed out, Zephyr had a foreboding feeling that he would. She just hoped like hell that no one would see them. . .
She made her way to his limp form, floating in the water, and grabbed onto him. Thinking just briefly about what excuses she could give to the others, she opened his mouth and pressed her lips to his, breathing precious air into his lungs. Quickly after that, she pulled him to the surface, hoping that he'd wake up and become capable of supporting his own weight upon gaining a steady supply of oxygen.
…
Damn you...
Silver saw the man pass out and swam a lot faster, even using his tail for impulse. As he got closer, Silver saw the Guado girl already getting to him and pulling him to surface, Silver swimming close behind. Being bitten several times by the water fiends he had already lost lots of blood, and felt weak.
Not today... not before finding Lady Yuna and seeing Serenity safely home...
…
(I'm gonna kill him if those fiends don't.) Lhinx thought angrily as she landed with a near thud onto the deck, her feet halting what could've been an even more embarrassing landing.
Lhinx stood up and almost ran towards the edge to jump back in.
"Bah." She said, walking towards Serenity and the many other onlookers. "Suicidal tiger demon." She added with a smirk.
…
Serenity looked towards Lhinx, glad that at least she was safe. "Stubborn, isn't he?" Serenity joked, and kept on shooting, though it seemed really pointless and getting nowhere. She kept her eyes on the other onlookers, who pointed and gasped, and she wished they'd go back down into their cabins, where it was safer. "I'm surprised there isn't more coming onto the boat."
…
Silver got to the surface, swimming as fast as he could towards Zephyr and her friend. "You ok?" he asked, his voice sounding really weak as he was about to pass out from the blood loss.
…
The Al Bhed didn't awaken, much to Zephyr's irritation. She dragged him up onto the ship, both of them soaking wet. She was breathing heavily, and Calix was barely breathing at all. The halfling gave the people surrounding them a look. "I'm going to take him downstairs to rest," she declared, picking him up with considerable difficulty and walking below decks.
…
Silver climbed the boat with lots of work, wounds all around his body. As he got to the deck he collapsed with a grin on his face out of pure weariness. "I'm the cat here... and I was about to be fish food..." he breathed heavily, trying to get on his feet.
…
Lhinx nodded in agreement to Serenity, watching as Zephyr pulled a now unconscious Calix up onto the boat and away from the onlookers. She felt a minor tickle like feeling on her ankles. She looked down and saw various bite marks, blood slowly beginning to ooze from them now that no water was near to wash them off. She then turned to Silver.
"You about to be dead." Lhinx said. "You have bad wound, need rest."
(Screw it if he won't say anything about what happened at the temple, this is serious.)
"We all need rest." The Ronso added. "Hope Kilika more peaceful."
(It won't be...I just know it...)
…
Zephyr either didn't hear Silver or didn't care, or maybe both.
Once she'd reached the cabins, she laid Calix down on a bed with a rasping breath. The halfling paused for a moment, taking in air with quick and greedy breaths.
"Stupid bastard. . ." she muttered. She held a hand in front of his nose, and noticed that his breath was dangerously shallow. Sighing reluctantly, she pushed her hair out of her face and pushed on his stomach, water bubbling out of his mouth. "Stupid, stupid bastard. . ." she whispered as she leaned down to breathe air into him again.