Ch. 17
Mal really didn't like going behind Ben's back when he insisted that she stay and keep working with Jane but after hearing about Jay, Carlos and Doug going off to search in the old Dwarven mines, she'd been uneasy. She'd tried to distract herself by checking in with Evie and seeing the newest arrivals from the Isle but her best friend had been on pins and needles without being near her beloved sewing equipment and it had worn off the last bit of resistance she had. Which is why she was now in her dragon form, winging her way over the forest towards the mountains.
Unfortunately, Evie hadn't been able to tell her exactly where in the mountains the boys would be, just that Doug had been pretty sure there would be some sort of underground lake or river and that they'd begin their search at his father and uncle's old cabin in the Snow White Woods. Mal started by following the main road, knowing the limo they drove had to be along it somewhere. Once she found it, she was irritated to find the nearly overgrown path through the trees was impossible to see from the sky and it would take too long to walk. Mal circled overhead, before turning to her right and heading towards the nearest edge of the mountains. Just before she reached it she flew over a small clearing where she was sure she could just make out the peak of a wooden shingled roof and stone chimney. Figuring it was the cottage Doug had described Mal felt her hopes rise and she gave her wings a few extra strong flaps.
The grey, craggy peaks of the mountains loomed ahead of her, stretching into the clouds above and far into the distance beside her. They were much larger and more foreboding then Mal thought any pile of rocks had a right to be. She huffed irritably as she drew closer, scanning the trees for any movement or signs that Jay and the others had been there. The setting sun was casting ever increasing shadows, making Mal's sight worse by the minute and her wings ached from keeping her aloft for so long already. Giving a roar of frustration, she turned her attention to finding a place to land. A few miles away she picked up the sound of running water and eagerly made her way towards the chance for a drink and a rest. The trees gave way to a winding river that moved steadily through the forest from a very tall waterfall several hundred feet up the side of the mountain. There was just enough room at the base of the waterfall for Mal to land without being in the river, though the spray did a good job of cooling her off once she transformed back into her human body.
As she knelt down to scoop up some water to drink, a piece of fabric caught between some rocks caught her attention. Quickly gulping down the frigid water, Mal stretched herself out and grabbed hold of the material, which turned out to be a very large duffel bag. The handle on one side was torn free, it was soaking wet and bore the Auradon Prep logo. Mal immediately began searching the area, calling out for her friends.
Hurridly searching the water and along the banks, Mal became increasingly worried when she found Aladdin's magic lamp and the Sorcerer's hat half drowned in the river. Using the bag like an oversized glove, Mal carefully maneuvered both of them into the duffel bag, then she slung it over her shoulder. Something red colored was hung up on a rock just ahead and Mal sprinted forward, recognizing a scrap of leather from Carlos' beloved jacket. Just beyond that, a lump lay half out of the water, not moving except for the barely discernable rise and fall as it still breathed.
"Carlos!" Mal shrieked, sliding to her knees next to the prone figure. Turning him onto his back, mal hooked her hands under his arms and pulled him the rest of the way out of the water. He was unconscious, his skin pale and lips tinged blue from the cold. Reaching back, Mal slapped Carlos' cheek so hand it snapped his head to the side, but he otherwise didn't respond. Shucking off the duffel bag and her jacket, which she covered Carlos in, Mal hurridly placed some rocks in a large circle, filled it with sticks and dry leaves and changed into her dragon form in order to light a fire and help warm her friend up.
With the fire blazing, Mal curled her large body around Carlos as carefully as possible, trying not to nick him with her sharp claws. She spread out her wing to cover Carlos as a cool evening breeze ruffled the black and white hair that was drying in his previous trademark curls. Mal snorted at the thought of Carlos' annoyance once he saw how his oh so carefully coifed hair had so easily reverted back to his boyish ringlets. He'd been trying so hard this past year to appear more grown up and mature after meeting Ben and being around all the Auradon princes, even though he was still a year younger in age and several more years older mentally.
As the sun continued to set and a chill began to creep up, Mal glanced anxiously around, where in the world were Jay and Doug? What if they'd gotten washed further downstream and needed help? Where were the rest of the artifacts that Carlos had been carrying? Mal's legendary impatience was beginning to get the best of her and she momentarily entertained the idea of breathing fire directly onto Carlos if he didn't wake up soon. A low moan caught her attention a moment later as Carlos began to stir, rolling slightly onto his side closer to Mal's warmth. Mal snuffled gently at the top of Carlos' head, unable to speak in her dragon form.
Carlos slowly cracked open one eye, his vision blurry. UNsure of where he was, what he saw in front of him only served to confuse him further. Purple, a very strange, yet somehow familiar wall of purple only a few inches from his face. Lifting the arm he wasn't lying on Carlos tried to touch the purple wall, only to feel a sharp stinging pain shoot from his shoulder down to his elbow. He hissed and quickly brought the arm back to cradle against his chest as he tried to roll onto his back. the wall of purple wasn't just in front of him, it was completely surrounding him Carlos noticed in muted awe. He supposed it was better than the infinite darkness he'd been in before and at least here he was very warm. Suddenly the purple ceiling above him shifted and he felt something large touch the crown of his head while an even warmer burst of air washed over him, flattening his head to his forehead. A low rumbling growl prompted Carlos to top his head back, his eyes widening in utter shock at the purple-scaled nose, snout, and face that greeted him.
"Mal?" Carlos whispered hopefully. The large green eyes blinked once as the giant head nodded.
Carlos slowly sat up, every bruise, and laceration flaring to life as he did so. "What are you doing here?"
The large wind retracted and mal stood up as she shifted back into her human form. "Sorry, still haven't figured out how to talk when I'm like that. And I'd think it was pretty obvious, I was saving your life."
Carlos looked around now that his dragon shelter was gone, realizing he was outside, beside the river. "How did you find me?"
"Dumb luck, I was heading for the mines but needed a break so I stopped for a drink and found a few carelessly discarded artifacts in the river and you nearly dead washed ashore," Mal explained, a hint of annoyance tinging her voice.
Carlos ducked his head at her accusing glare. "I tried to neutralize them in the river but the current was too strong."
"So it took you out of the mountain, via that lovely waterfall, you lost the artifacts along the way and what happened to Jay and Doug?" Mal asked.
"Oh no, Jay is still trapped!" Carlos yelped, struggling to climb to his feet.
"Trapped? Where?" Mal asked, quickly grabbing Carlos' arm as he wavered.
"In the mine, his tunnel collapsed. That's why I had to finish with the artifacts fast so I could go for help," Carlos explained.
"Speaking of which, we should really find them before someone else does," Mal suggested, handing the duffel bag with the two she'd recovered to Carlos.
The two began picking their way along the river bank, steadily moving further away from the mountains as they searched for the lost artifacts. Most were finally recovered before it became too dark to see, sunk in the soft river bottom or caught in the rocks; except for Fairy Godmother's wand.
"I can't believe I lost it," Carlos groaned.
"I can't believe it either, but this what happens when we split up and I'm not around to call the shots. As smart as you and Doug are, why is hurtling yourself several stories off the side of a mountain the best plan you could come up with?" Mal retorted sharply.
Carlos slumped down onto the ground. "It wasn't Doug's idea, he tried to talk me out of it but Jay was trapped and Fairy Godmother and Jane are running out of time. I didn't know what else to do Mal."
"It really must be the end of the world if you're admitting that. Well, look on the bright side, I'm here now. It's too dark to keep searching, so we'll go rescue Jay and get the artifacts back to Auradon Prep for Ben to lock up. I can fly back here tomorrow in less than an hour once it's light and look for the wand again," Mal replied.
Carlos sighed heavily and nodded, Mal was right, as smart as he and Doug were neither of them was a born leader like Maleficent's daughter. She always had a plan and inspired complete confidence in others that followed her. Carlos had seriously missed her the last two days and was relieved to hand the reigns back.