Chapter Ten

"No," the female tiger told the male as she dumped the boy inside their cave, "I don't think he's dead, Vang." He gave a small growl in response, but she waited until she'd demorphed back to human before answering him. "I know you don't like me bringing home stray humans. I'm not big on trusting the two-leggers either, but we couldn't just let him die." The tiger growled again, and she rolled her eyes. "The Hell you could've. If you'd been there, you would've beat me to rescuing him." She knew he tried to put out a hard front, but she also knew that his heart was as soft as hers. She reached out and scratched his head before walking around the fire. "Any trouble while we were gone?" she asked as she unzipped her leather jacket, pulled it off, and let it hit the ground.

"Non, ma chérie. Almost have dinner done."

"Good," the blonde replied as she pulled off her shirt. "I'm starving, but first cut this into strips for his bandages, will ya?" She tossed the shirt toward the crab.

"Oui, mademoiselle." Sebastian grabbed the shirt and began snipping it into pieces with his sharp claws. "Where'd you find the boy?"

"The woods," she answered, stretching before putting her jacket back on. "He was being attacked by raptors. The little ones."

"Mon dieu! Poor lad! Good thing that you were in the area so that you could rescue him. I wish something would come along and do those damned beasties in!" He continued to snip the shirt, pretending that each piece was one of the raptors.

"That'd be nice," she answered, shrugging back into her jacket, "but it ain't gonna happen in our lifetimes, Sebastian."

He handed her the clipped pieces. "Let me get one of my potions so that you can use it on the wounds. They should heal in no time." He scuttled off and soon returned with a little bottle and handed it to Zora. "A little goes a long way. Put a dab on; put a bandage on. Now I must get back to my food." He scuttled over to a huge pot, jumped up, grabbed the wooden spoon, and began to stir it around and around while being very careful not to fall into the boiling mixture.

Zora shook her head as she watched the little crab. Her father never had told her quite the exact spot he'd dug him up, but Sebastian certainly was something. Shaking her head again, she turned back to her work. It was then that Vang cleared his throat rather importantly. She looked up but didn't bother to blush at his words. In reply, she merely zipped her jacket up and returned to caring for the boy.

Connor stirred and halfway opened his eyes. He saw the woman gazing down intently at him. "Who are you?" he whispered, surprised that his voice came out as a squeak.

She looked down at him, a shock of her blonde hair falling down into her wild, green eyes. "Name's Zora. What about you? What are you doing here, and who are you?"

"I'm one of many who were shipwrecked. My name's Connor. Thank you for saving me. They'll be worried about me, but I'm lucky to be alive. Do you have some one you can send to let them know that I'm all right?"

She shook her head. "They wouldn't understand Vang, and Sebastian can't cook and bandage you at the same time. Besides, we'll get you back to them soon." She returned her attention to bandaging his wounds.

Connor's vision grew dim, and he passed back out.

Sebastian mumbled to himself and then informed them that dinner was ready. Vang stalked off immediately for his food, but Zora remained where she was, still tending to the boy's wounds. "I'll eat shortly," she promised Sebastian, and he knew better than to try to get her to until her task was finished.


The small group led by Jack soon reached the shipwreck. The others looked up as Jack's party arrived. Jack went to the center of the group while Celina rushed past him to see about Katrina. Jack then proceeded to announce, "We have problems, and we must get to safety before nightfall."

Whispers rang amongst the group, but it was Joxer, whose arms were still wrapped protectively around Phoebe, who spoke up. "We always have problems. Why's that anything new?"

Faith cleared her voice and, looking dead at Joxer, told him, "This time it is. Now shut your mouth and do as Jack says."

"Gather anything that you can carry that might be of use and get ready to move. We should be heading out in about ten minutes." He could hear the mutterings, but he could also tell that the people were getting ready to move. "We need weapons," Jack said. "All I have is a sword. You don't even have that, Faith. All I can say is dig through the rubble. Maybe something will turn up."

He'd no sooner spoken than Faith had released Dawson's hand and began scrambling through the remains of the ships, tossing boards aside heedlessly in her search. "It's gotta be here somewhere," she muttered to herself, but the first several swords she pulled up were not her own. She tossed those back to Jack and Dawson.

Dawson simply stepped out of the way. He knew he couldn't catch a sword except the hard way. "Faith, I'm going to look for Will. Just lay the swords out in a straight row, and we'll pick them out as soon as I find Will." He took off without another word, hoping to soon find Will. He figured Will would still be mad at him, but maybe not when he heard what was out there.

He saw a strange man who appeared to be a Captain talking to Xena. He went to their group. "Have you seen Will?" he asked.

Xena shook her head. "No, I haven't, not lately, but I have some one for you to meet. Captain Jack Sparrow, meet Captain James Hook."

Jack looked at Hook. "Do I know you?" Something about the man rang a bell with him, but he wasn't sure just what.

"Yes, but you don't remember me," James told him. "It was a very long time ago. Too much has happened since then. I couldn't get back to you. I wanted to."

"James?" Jack said. "I thought you were dead!"

"Just snatched. I couldn't get back and rescue you. Thank you for taking care of me when I was aboard, stealing that food and blankets and bringing them to me. I would've died without your help. I never forgot you nor did I ever stop wanting to help you. They just wouldn't let me."

Jack lifted his hand toward James. "It's good to see you again, James, and you're welcome. I don't know who they are, but I know that if you were able, you would have returned for me."

"I couldn't go away and forget you, Jack. You were too good to me." The two men shook hands, making eye contact and keeping it the whole time they were talking. "I hate to find you in such dire straits and would've been willing to offer my ship for your rescue, but it was destroyed."

"Figures," Jack replied as he let James' hand go. "We must talk later. Right now I have to find Will and we all have to get up to the top of the hill. There's a house up there where we should be safe for the night."

He smiled one last time at James, hardly believing that his old friend stood there healthy and alive. He had just began to walk off when he heard Salem call out, "James, you old dog! Where've you been?"

"I was told that you were here. It's so good to see you, old friend!" He rushed forward, picked up Salem, and gave him a hug before putting him back down. "I didn't think I'd ever see you again. Our people have been scattered so many places as punishment it's ridiculous."

Salem leaned closer to James. "I think that time might be coming to an end, old friend. Many of us seem to be getting gathered here."

"Who else is here?" James asked.

"Jareth," Salem answered with a catish grin.

"Jareth, Smee, you, and me! I wonder if any others of us are wandering around?"

"I have a good feeling," Salem purred, "that our lives are just beginning to get pieced back together."

"Long as that boi don't find me," James said. "I don't want to go back to Neverland."

"Neverwhere?" Salem asked. The two walked off, discussing James' past, with Smee running to catch up.


Jack could not figure where Will had taken himself off to, but then he spied Donkey circling something and nudging at it. He quickly went to Donkey. "Donkey, have you seen Will?"

Donkey leapt at Jack. "You need spectacles, don't ya?" he asked, prancing in front of him.

"Why? I couldn't see Will through you! Do you need to lose weight?" Jack tossed at him.

"Oh, I'll give ya a weight loss program! Come here!" Donkey charged him playfully.

"Will?" Jack called to him as he dodged Donkey's attack. "Are you okay? Why are you sitting out here by yourself?"

Will sighed but dared not turn to look at him. "I . . . was just waiting for you to return . . . "

"Well, there's some good news and some bad news." He offered his hand to Will and pulled him to his feet when he took his hand. "The good news is that we're all alive and doing well right now. The bad news is that there are dinosaurs on this island." He paused a moment to let that sink in.

Will did not look directly at Jack until he spoke the last word. "Dinosaurs!" he exclaimed, his wide eyes snapping up to look questioningly into Jack's.

"Unfortunately, aye. Even more unfortunate is that they are the dangerous kind, not plant eaters. Some people have already been attacked. Faith was almost killed by them. We're going up to the house. You need to come back and look at the swords that Faith is rescuing from the rubble."

"So she's okay, then?"

"Katrina healed her, but we almost lost her."

Will nodded solemnly and began to walk with Jack when Donkey jumped into their pathway. "Donkey, what . . . ?"

"You boys ain't going anywhere!" he exclaimed. "Not until you patch things up and you get that frown off of your face!"

"Me? I don't have a frown on my face," Jack said. "And what do I need to patch up with Will? Oh . . ." His face fell. "I forgot. I need to apologize for talking so plainly in front of you, Will. I didn't mean to shock you."

"That's all right," Will spoke softly. At Donkey's loud clearing of his throat, he added, still not looking at Jack, "It's I who should apologize. I should have been able to handle Brendan, but I let you down."

"No, you should not have to continue to apologize for that, Will! I'm not upset about that! You'll learn one day to take care of Brendan, just not in emergency." He reached out and hugged him. "Stop fretting about that."

Will relished Jack's hug and returned it. "I . . . It's just that I feel that I let you down, Jack."

"It was an accident, Will. You tried your very best, and that's what counts. I was an idiot for sending you after him. I thank the Gods that you were not hurt. Now let's not talk any more about that and you stop worrying about it."

Will nodded and was about to speak when Donkey once more interrupted them. "Huh . . . Guys, if it's Brendan you're worried about wolfing out again, you might want to take a look at that . . . "

"So far, so good," Jack said with a grin. "Brendan's with Prue, and he's not wolfing. That's good news." He took Will's hand and hurriedly returned to where he had left Faith and Dawson. She had accumulated a large amount of weaponry. "Every one, take a piece of weaponry and get ready to go. We are now leaving. Do not straggle; stay close to the group."

Faith stepped back as the pile of weaponry was converged upon. She heard Joxer holler as Xena slapped his hand for reaching for her chakram. Shaking her head and dismissing the scene, Faith turned to Dawson and pressed a sword into his hand. "I'll show ya how to use it later."

Dawson looked at the sword he now held in his hand. "Thanks, I think," he said. He wasn't sure what to make of it.

She laughed and hit him on the back. "You'll be thankful once you learn how to use it. You've gotta be able to protect yourself, kid."

"Protect me and you," Dawson amended.

Faith was about to answer him when laughter broke into their conversation. She turned angry eyes on Phoebe.

Joxer, too, was looking at his love in disbelief. "Baby, that ain't any different than me protecting us!"

Phoebe doubled over with laughter at that, and even Faith couldn't help laughing.

"Hey, I could learn!" Dawson protested. "I'm willing!"

Her laughter quieting, Faith stepped closer to Dawson. "You're gonna learn a lot, kid," she whispered against his lips before kissing him.

He returned her kiss, pleasure surging through his body. He couldn't wait to learn some of the things she could teach him! The sword could wait a while.


Upon returning to the camp, Angel had started for his family to check and see how they were faring and to get weapons for them. He could see Lorne and Crys kissing and Cordelia looking angry, but before he could reach her, Cordelia's face lifted as she turned to look at him and she broke and run toward him. He opened his arms to catch her and lifted her high into the air before bringing her back down the length of his body. His lips sought hers in a passionate kiss.

Cordelia had been about to tell Angel how worried she had been for him when his sweet lips silenced all her thoughts. Instead of her lips talking for her, she let her whole mouth do the talking. She returned his kiss in full, her tongue slipping into his mouth and deepening their kiss.

"Whoa, Princess! Who taught you to kiss like that?" he whispered to her. "You'll overpower me! My mind already went out the window!"

"What window?" she grinned, her hazel eyes twinkling up at him. "Angel, I may be a Princess, but I'm not an innocent!"

"That's okay," he was quick to reassure her. "I've never been innocent, but right now, I can't give in to my feelings for you. I've got to get you to safety. I missed you a lot while I was gone." He did not release her but continued to hold her even as he looked down at Lorne and Crys, who were still so involved in each other that they did not appear to have noticed his return. Blue cooed up at him.

"Hi, Blue," Angel said. "Lorne? Lorne?" He gently punched him with his foot. "Get up from there! We've got to take Crys, Cordy, and the babies to safety! We can't afford to be left behind, and the others are already starting out."

Lorne got to his feet. Not wanting to release Crys, he brought her up with him. "If you have anything," Angel told him, "grab it. We have to go."

There were two swords left in the weapons pile when Angel reached it. He lifted one and handed it to Lorne who accepted it though not being sure what to do with it. He kept the other. He could see the end of the group, and he hurriedly rushed his family toward it.

Crys had noticed the way Lorne had looked at the sword and couldn't help wondering what his funny look was over. She didn't say anything about it but did slow and release his hand as they reached the end of the group. Taking the skirts of her dress in her hands, she began to tear at them.

"Why are you tearing your clothes off, Crys?" Lorne asked in concern.

"It's going to be a long climb," she explained, "and its best not done in these torn skirts." It was then that Cindy latched on to the tail of the dress and pulled harder. The bodice ripped as the lioness snatched the dress off of her mistress, revealing a tight, black leotard.

"I see what you mean," Lorne said, grinning. "That outfit fits you like a second skin."


Almost last in the group was Katrina and her family. Morph and Tom were still in pony form, carrying the kids. Last in the group was Clark and Lex following behind the others and keeping close watch over the children. No one looked back at what remained of the ships.

Every one seemed jumpy as the whisper of dinosaurs rang throughout the group. Katrina was talking to Tom through their mindlink and telling him how awful those things were and how close she had come to losing Faith. His nose touched her in the back reassuringly, and they continued on with their journey, hoping to reach the house before nightfall.

It was Celina who first noticed that something seemed to be bothering Meesy. She reached down, picked him up, and held him close to her so that she could whisper to him. "What's wrong?"

Meesy's blue eyes were trained on something up ahead in the path. "I believe Salem's about to deal with it," he assured her.


Salem had had just about enough of that stupid poodle staring holes in Miss Kit! He walked boldly forward. "I am warning you, buddy, back off!"

"Who? Me?" Gonk barked.

"I'm not talking to the wind, buddy, and stop that infernal barking! You want those raptors down on us?"

Gonk looked at him. "What raptors?" he barked again.

"The ones that attacked Faith and almost killed her. They're big as a house! If you want them for lunch, you go find them!"

Gonk bristled but pulled himself up so that he appeared to be ten times the dog. "Maybe I will," he informed Salem as he walked past him, his nose held in the air.

It was then that Salem swatted him in the rear. "I told you to quit being stupid! Quit bothering Miss Kit! Return to Elvira, and take that infernal puppy with you!"

The wriggling puppy looked at Salem. "Grr?" he asked.

"Don't grr at me, you whipper snapper! Scat!" he told the puppy.

The puppy whined.

"Gonk, take that puppy to safety! Shame on you -- endangering the both of you!"

"Shame on me nothing!" Gonk barked shrilly back at Salem. "I don't want that thing following me any more than you do!"

"Take it back to the kids now!" Salem pulled himself up to his full height and slapped Gonk on the nose with both paws, claws extended.

Gonk yelped in pain, but instead of doing as Salem commanded, he turned and ran as fast as his little legs could carry him to the safety of his mistress. He nearly barreled into Elvira, and she cooed over him in concern as she picked him up. "What is it?" she asked him. "What's wrong?"

Gonk barked shrilly, and Elvira put her finger on his nose. "Hush!" She stroked his head as he quieted. "Now who slapped you?" She could see the claw marks on either side of his nose. Gonk whimpered as he looked pointedly back at Salem.

"Salem!" Elvira started.

"Don't you get on to Salem!" Faith told her.

"Who are you," Elvira asked, turning to her, "his keeper?"

"No," Faith retorted, staring her down, "but I am the bitch who'll kick your ass if you don't leave him alone!"

Wolf hurried to catch up with Elvira. "Baby, let's not fight. At least, not now. Save it for the house. Those raptors could be down on us at any moment! You've got to keep Gonk quiet. Little mouths with sharp yaps will be sure to draw their attention. You wouldn't be anything but a snack for them, Gonk. Salem was within his line of duties, trying to keep the peace. You just wouldn't mind, and you left the puppy!" Wolf was carrying the puppy. "You can't do that! He's little and needs help! Or do you want him to become a snack?"

Gonk glared angrily at Wolf and began to growl only to be rewarded with a slap from Elvira. "You do not take that kind of tone with your father, mister!" He looked at her in surprise. Since when did Wolf get added to his long line of fathers? She'd promised that would stop! Was the Werewolf that important to her?

"I'm going to take the puppy to the kids. I'll be right back, sweetheart," Wolf said as he leaned toward her and gave her a quick kiss. "Try to do something with him to keep him quiet. All we need is those raptors to come down on us."

"You're kidding, right?" she asked him. "He thinks his mouth's bigger than his dick and that that'd fill the earth!"

Wolf shook his head. "Be right back." He raced back down the trail. Reaching Julian, he handed him the puppy. "Try to keep him quiet, Julian. It's very important."

"I will, Mister Wolf, somehow." Julian's eyes were as big as saucers. He had heard the adults talking about the dinosaurs, and it was scaring him. He knew that they would protect Sarah and himself, but he didn't want the awful beings to come down on them. He had read in books about dinosaurs and how they were supposed to be extinct yet now they were real? Might that also mean that the Boogeyman was real too?

He gripped the puppy tightly to his chest with one arm, and the puppy settled down and went to sleep. With the other hand, he held on tightly to Morph. He kept glancing at his sister, hoping that she didn't understand what was going on, but she kept playing with Tom's mane with one hand and holding on to the other, seeming to have missed most of the conversations. He settled down for the ride.

Sarah had heard the adults talking about dinosaurs, but she didn't know what they were. She was not old enough to read even if she could have, and Julian had never told her anything about them. She just left it for the grown-ups to take care of it, trusting that they'd protect them.

To Be Continued . . .