For you smart people that noticed that I had previously said that Barley had died in my story, and also noticed that I included him in a chapter later, I congratulate you! Haha! Lol.
"DO SOMETHING POP!" Ann screamed at the top of her lungs and looked up at her best friend that was freaking out at the summit of the mountain. Ann actually, looked particularly funny, hanging from her back belt loop with her arms and legs dangling in front and behind her.
"I AM!" Popuri screamed and ran around in another circle. Ann wondered when she would start wearing a sphere into the ground.
"Oh my gosh!" A voice was heard from the summit.
"Help! I fell over running away from Cliff and then Ann helped me get back up but now she' s hanging from the cliff on her belt scarf thing and I don't know what to do!" Popuri quickly explained and ran to the edge. Footsteps followed her. "And it could snap at any moment and ...yeah!"
"Wow." The voice replied and leaned over so Ann could discover who it was.
"Did you hear that one Daddy?" Kira asked and twiddled her fingers.
"Yea…" Kai's voice trailed off and he stood up slowly. "Come on." Kai quickly slung Kira onto his shoulder and she hung on well. Kai sped up onto the mountain to see Sasha and Popuri leaning over the edge of the cliff.
"What happened daddy?" Kira asked innocently. Kai shook his head letting Kira know that he didn't know. Kai stopped and dropped Kira silently onto the ground and watched.
"Well, how do we bring her up? Obviously, neither one of us is strong enough, even if we tried together." Sasha inquired.
"I know! That's why I was freaking out." Popuri flung her hands into the air, lowered them into her hair and ran t hem through in frustration. "Gah." Kai heard someone coming up to the summit so he knelt to his daughter's ear.
"Hide behind a tree; I don't want you to get hurt okay honey?" Kai whispered and pointed to a big tree down the path. Kira nodded and stumbled off to stand behind the big brown tree that was 100 times larger than her brown haired self. Just as she had settled into a comfortable position, Ghai, Elli and Karen walked up the hill. They didn't notice Kai standing on the edge of the path.
"Oh my gosh Mum. Why are you all the way up here, and what was that noise?" Karen asked impatiently. "I mean seriously. That climb was torture on my nails."
"Karen! Poor Ann is hanging by a thread down there, and we don't know what to do!" Sasha replied gently. But Popuri and Sasha turned away from Ann, and explained the situation. Kai kept his eyes on the belt, which was slowly getting strained more and more. –Twang- No one else heard a thread of the belt give way. Kai did. –Twang- There went another one.
"This is stupid!" Ann pounded the side of the cliff and many pebbles fell onto the grassy surface many, many feet below her hanging body. Ann didn't know that her life was hanging by a couple tiny giving threads either. Kai's eyes enlarged as another thread twang away. He instinctively ran towards the cliff's edge, pushing the others out of the way.
"GET AWAY! IT'S GIVING OUT!" Kai yelled and watched the last thread break and heard Ann scream. "ANN!" He yelled after her and dove over the side.
"Gaaaaahh!" Ann yelped and saw Kai dive over the cliff. It happened in slow motion (that seems to happen quite often these days). Kai dove head first almost into Ann, grabbed her hand, looked up and clung onto a small almost invisible hidden ledge just inches from where she was hanging just seconds ago. "Kai!" Ann's eyes enlarged this time, admiring Kai's bravery.
"Hold on Ann" Kai grunted and everyone rushed to the edge to watch. Kai swung Ann onto the small ledge then used his other hand to grab hold of the ledge. There was only room for barely one person to kneel on it. "Are you okay Ann?" Ann only stared at Kai and nodded. "Good." He grunted and fixed his grip on the ledge. "Well, now what?" Ann shook her head and continued staring. "Could you please say something?" Kai asked sweetly.
"Uh…" Ann mumbled a few words of gibberish. "Hi?" She swallowed then blinked several times. "You saved me…"
"That I did." Kai said.
"How're we going to get back up?" Ann asked, looking at their audience.
"That's my question exactly." Kai replied, grunting and fixing his grip again. Then his body got shot with pain. "GAH!" He yelped.
"Kai!" Ann stood carefully and scooted the scorpion that had just bit Kai off the edge of the ledge. "Where'd it come from?" She asked herself and turned around, seeing a hole in the cliff where the ledge was. "Ugh…What if more come…?" Ann then knelt back down and turned her attention back to Kai.
"It's red!" Kai whimpered as he looked at his bitten hand while still holding on with the other. "And it's." Kai was breathing deeply and seemed to be in great pain. "It's spreading up my arm." He closed his eyes.
"Kai!" Ann yelled and Kai's eyes fluttered back open. They were full of pain and weakness.
"Ann… It's time." Kai said softly. Ann's eyes enlarged.
"What?" She asked, not understanding.
"My time to leave." Kai answered calmly. He looked longingly at the ground beneath them. Ann suddenly became full of determination and she grabbed Kai's other hand.
"Don't you dare. The bite is going to your head." She threatened. Kai sighed and looked back up at her. His eyes still full of pain.
"I'm tired." Kai replied. Ann shook her head. "Let me go."
"No!" Ann yelled and pulled with all her might. She pulled with all her strength, all her hope and faith. She pulled with all her heart and head. She pulled until she was standing with Kai right next to her. She opened her eyes and saw Kai staring into them.
"Ann…" Kai muttered. "You're standing so close."
"There isn't anywhere else for me to stand you see." Ann explained, giggling softly. Then they heard heavy footsteps. Like those from huge boots, climbing a hill. Soon enough, they looked up and saw Cliff's face.
"Cliff!" Popuri yelped and ran over to the edge. "Can you help?" She whimpered slightly and Cliff hung his head.
"I'll try." Cliff decided finally. He brought his head up and stood at the top of the mountain. "Hold onto this." He pulled out a rope and tied it around his waist. "Trust me, it's quite strong." He handed the rope to Popuri and Karen, Sasha, Ghai and Elli also grabbed hold of the rope. They all nodded back at Cliff and he slowly climbed over the edge.
"Cliff?" Kai asked solemnly.
"Yup." Cliff grunted and climbed farther down towards the two.
"But why? I almost killed you." Kai mentioned.
"I remember what you almost did Kai." Cliff answered. "Who says I'm rescuing you?" Cliff was down to their level now, just off to the left of the ledge. He nodded at Ann.
"Oh, I see." Kai looked down in shame.
"Seriously Kai, I don't hold grudges. Come on, grab some rope." Cliff smiled smartly and tossed the other end to Ann and Kai. They both caught it so Kai tied himself to the end and Ann was tied between Kai and Cliff.
"Ready?" Ann gulped.
"You kidding?" Cliff answered and they all started climbing to the top. They were almost at the top, and the others there were pulling with all their might. "So, what happened?"
"Well" Ann began. "Popuri fell down here, running from you Cliff. Then I got her back up, but got myself stuck down here hanging by a belt in the process. Then, the belt broke and Kai dove down here. He grabbed onto the ledge down there, and pulled me up. Once I realized what had happened, we thought about how we'd get back up right? Then a scorpion stung his hand, so he wanted to let go with the other hand too so that he could fall and die and I'm like, uh, no. So I pulled him back up and then you showed up." Ann explained.
"Uh…yea." Kai confirmed.
"I see." Cliff said and rolled onto the grassy hilltop, followed by Ann who was followed by Kai. They untied themselves and received hugs from numerous helpers and rope pullers.
"Thanks guys." Ann gratefully nodded at Cliff and Kai.
"Well, it's pretty much my fault anyways." Cliff muttered. "If Popuri wouldn't have run from me, she wouldn't have fallen to Ann wouldn't have had to save her and, you get the rest." He hung his head.
"You can't blame yourself Cliff. We all make mistakes. Besides, we're all fine now." Kai assured Cliff.
"Hah! You should talk Kai!" Ann playfully punched Kai's shoulder.
"Wait a second!" Popuri screeched and sprinted over to where the three were standing. "You said that your daughter…" Popuri began, but since no one else could hear, the rest of the villagers other than those four left. "You said that your daughter… the mother… was dead."
"Correct." Kai mumbled, he knew where this was going.
"Then the mother… You had a child with someone while we were still dating?" Popuri yelled. Kai sighed.
"Well…" Kai started to begin telling the truth, but he got cut off.
"How could you? Blaming Popuri for cheating on you when you're doing it yourself!" Ann defended Popuri while she nodded. Kai only coughed.
"Um… Yes well…" Cliff said breaking the silence. He got down on one knee and took Popuri's hand in his own. "Popuri, I apologize. For everything." Popuri blushed and knelt down to hug her ex.
"I forgive you Cliff. I just don't want to have to be afraid anymore." Popuri sniffled into his shoulder.
"I'm sorry too guys. This drama's getting to my head. I really do have to go though. I'm late for my boat." Kai smiled sheepishly and gave each of his friends a warm hug. He then ran over to his daughter, Kira, scooped her up onto his shoulder, then turned and waved as he started down the mountain.
"Well… I don't think I have anything to apologize for." Ann said confidently, and then Cliff playfully punched her shoulder this time. Ann smiled brightly, linked Popuri's arm in her own, also Cliff's, then turned to look at the sun that was setting. They all sat down and watched the day's end painting together.
"Come on Daddy!" Kira squealed from the boat. She had hopped on fully, while her father only had one foot on, and was turned, looking at his shack.
"Bye summer shack." Kai smiled, turned and got on the boat that had all their belongings on it. He had bought Kira many pretty little six year old-ish things. She knew they were all hers. The boat left the docks and set out for Kai's hometown, Moonlit County.
A shadowy figure sighed in relief stood up from the bench was hiding behind. He sprinted to the back of Kai's shack and slid through a secret entrance. He ended up in the basement that Kai never knew about. The figure walked to a candlelit desk with papers and pictures laying all about it. He slammed a photo album onto the floor and it fell open to a page of Popuri and Kai putting their arms around each other and smiling, giving each other bunny ears. The person kicked the book closed and sat in a creaky arm chair, regretting ever meeting her.
Well? What did you think? Sorry it took so long! Writer's block and, I just didn't have time to get a round to it! Sorry. Please, I need suggestions for what should happen next. Thanks and please review! –Dancin'