"Raise your head up

Lift high the load"

("Two Worlds" by Phil Collins)

Chapter 14

Lonny had been unable to do anything but wait. It was now approaching the second sunset, meaning it was still bright out, but the third sunset usually occurred within an hour of the second. The first sunset was long since over and it would not rise for about eight to ten hours, depending on how long it took for the moon to orbit the other side of the planet and the direction it was facing when it did. His chance would come soon, but already the foursome in the cave was suffering. None of them had had anything to drink since he had given the last drop to the youngest, and that had been maybe five or six hours ago already, in the heat of the day, after they had survived the fire. Lonny himself had not had anything to drink since sometime before and was likely the most dehydrated of the group, yet he could not give up. Not yet, anyway. Not while there was still a slight hope that he could get to the water that they so desperately needed if he were able to wait just a little longer. He did not dare to leave the safety of the cave yet, though, because the other three members of this little group had not regained consciousness and were counting on him to find the strength to make it there and back with water. He could not tell if the Troopers had left yet and he could not afford to abandon the little family until he knew that they would be safe until his return. Therefore, he had to wait, quietly so as not to attract undue attention to the group…

Luke was waking up again, feeling a little better after the rest. He tried again to see if anyone was near him, especially the unusual creature he had encountered earlier. He still had hopes that it would be able to answer his questions about what exactly had happened. It had become somewhat obvious that they had been looking for someone or something, but what?

You cannot give up. There are those who are counting on you…

'I know people are counting on me. But how can I help them if I am stuck here?' he wondered. If he had not been feeling so awful, he might have been impatient or demanding. Yet he felt that he was barely awake. He knew that he had been captured and was now tied up. Now his side wound was making its presence known. 'Is that why I am so tired?' he thought blandly.

You must get up. You must do something about your current situation.

"I know, but what?" he muttered, wider awake now. He looked down at his side and felt rather than saw the extent of the damage. He tried to press his cloak against the wound, in an attempt to slow the bleeding even further than it had since he had collapsed. He froze when he heard the slight sound of feet shuffling by him. On impulse, he reached out to get the attention of whatever it was that was about to pass him, not even pausing to wonder what type of creature it was. Suddenly, the creature tripped, half landing on him, before trying to scurry backwards. Luke desperately tried to grab hold of the creature, hoping that he would touch an arm or a leg. The creature cried out weakly in fear. Luke tried to reassure it with his words, but did not know what languages the creature would understand. He finally just decided to try his native tongue and hope that the creature would understand that he did not intend to hurt it. "Please, I need some help," he whispered in the direction he was sure that the creature had headed towards. Time seemed to stop as he unconsciously held his breath, waiting for the creature to make the next move, whatever it would be. He heard a gasp and hoped that he had chosen the right language and tone of voice.

"Lonny?" came a hesitant, whispered reply. "Is that you?"

He knew now who it was he had tripped in his desperation for help and hoped that the favor he had done this creature in his attempt to preserve its life would not be looked on unkindly and that the creature was both willing and able to repay the debt. But hadn't he heard the voice greet him the same way both times? And had it just spoken in his own language?

AN:

JadeAlmasy: I intend to! (lol) Hope you continue to enjoy!

"Friendly Banter", part 4:

JCPuzzler: ----shocked---- ----opens mouth---- ----closes mouth---- ----opens it again---- ----is speechless---- Uh... ----squeaks---- ----tries again---- ----is still shocked---- ----finally succeeds---- YOU! ----frowns---- You. Don't. Believe. Me. ----is indignant---- I am too innocent and angelic! There is too a method...to...umm...what was it called again? I am not
pretending! ----crickets---- ----notices crowd staring---- What are -you- looking at? My own...friend...doesn't believe me! ----lip quivers slightly in disbelief---- What have I ever done to you, my former friend? The 'Great Abra'? Who? ----frowns at laughter heard in background---- ----walks off, muttering---- Well! I never-- Just -who- does she think she is? ----continues to mutter----

Arami: Well that's a wrap, as they say in showbiz. ----talks to crowd...---- See she is mad at least in a honest way. I guess association with certain parties causes one to lose some sanity. -hehe... ----smiles at crowd brilliantly, naturally winning them over----. As you can tell from her "innocence" she is more like a crazy person who sadly mistakes her angelic attitude from what it really is, INSANITY! ----Haha, now all know the mind's inner workings in JCPuzzler...----...Aww shoot she gonna kill me now ----backs slowly away from direction of author----.