Chapter VII : Stay Safe
Step by step, she was progressing with effort in the deep snow. What felt odd however, was the absence of cold in her body. Such an odd feeling, strange experience it was hard to tell where she was going.
Where are you going ?
A thick fog made her feel like she was discovering new, fresh land every time she took a leap forward, it felt light …
There were some hint of wind … but wait.
Is this is a mountain ? Why … why was she alone ? Strange indeed ….
A pebble in the water ….
Shira
Her heart sank.
It felt close, 10 meters away … No. Closer … yes
It was close
Where was it coming from ?
The wind grew stronger, but the fog remained.
Hey Girl
Again …
The whispers, dancing with the breath of the wind, an unlikely song muttered… So close …. So strange
She stopped right there
It came from down there … down below
A leg stretched towards the abyss … Her left paw clinging hard on the tip of the cliff. Sweet chills … Cold was back once again …
Whispers … Again.
I'll come along, don't worry
It can't be ….
Down there …
Downhill was the answer
Slowly ….
Eyes …
Dropping ..
Below .
SHIRA !
A blow brushed the foe on her left.
Such force was it
So strange
So powerful
The body fell
Joining the Maelstrom
Down there
Down below ….
Gone forever
She was awake now, sweating.
Mountain was gone, foe was gone …
She was back in the cave
A big presence alerted her behind, she turned to face it.
- Bad dream ….
It was a short answer, but it felt enough to convince Manny otherwise. He seemed to have awoken awhile ago, and the wide, concerned eyes changed to a more relaxed expression.
Yawning intimately, he finally decided to get up
- ' Morning.
- Perfect grip !
It was close to midday. The trio found a formidable shortcut : a suspended cave against the beach's ridge. A tight but solid vine was tying nicely the gap between the two extremes, and Buck just found a brilliant way to slide from point A to point B
- With these semi rings, this is a guaranteed win !
The enthusiasm was there, but the possums definitely felt that he was different. Buck's more relaxed mood contrasted with his panic yesterday, but with a knife gone, the Buck spark was lacking.
« Carefully designed in intricate wood, these transport rings are the ideal tools to any sharp edged explorer ! … »
Crash & Eddie's eyes were wide open, you could hardly tell if they were impatient or nervous …
- …. Exciting impending doom awaits, all …. At the ONLY price of WILL !
Barely had he finished his advertisement, that the twins were in a brawl to try the invention first. Buck was still unfazed though, and resumed his selling speech.
- Sheer will … as whoever lays their hands on them marvels … will taste the fury of UNBRIDLED nature !
« Nobles first, give me that ! »
Buck was now watching the clash. Slightly sighing, dangerous trigger words were now used to desist them from using the glider.
- .TERROR
Still no reactions. Eyes were rolled, and even sharper words were used :
- One at the time
Immediately the dust settled, both possums took a step back in embarrassment.
E – Sorry …
It didn't take long for the possums to realize the meaning behind the order, and the fight was back on. More eyes were rolled.
Buck took immediately the opportunity : he grabbed the two with one arm lock, held the ring with his other hand, and what was left untouched from Buck's control was the sheer fear in Crash & Eddie's eyes, bracing each other for dear life.
- Another day in paradise ...
Brilliant landing
It only was at the very end that the vine broke loose, resulting in a spectacular finish in the ridge tunnel.
Buck was already up, congratulating himself on the success with a very shy applause, joining the twins, laying on their backs, unable to get up.
- Who needs insurance anyway ? You lads are good ?
They lifted both a hand, as if they were expecting a response. The weasel made a sweeping flat hand check, then turned back to investigate the tunnel.
- Good …
« This arm is my only hope » said Crash dramatically. Both were really grasping for a helping hand, thus the arms were still held up.
But that wasn't Buck's concern anymore. Contemplating the tunnel, it was filled with leaves, algae, a ceiling filled with natural holes, covered in mush. Due to being close to the sea, the humidity was overly present. It practically mirrored today's sewers, but adding caveats on it's sides, giving up a clear view on the other clear coasts of the island.
Something on the ground caught his eye : a peculiar pawprint. It looked as if a dozen animals created it, but there was something else…
- Dude for real how much are those rings ?
« They're free … » muttered Buck, too concentrated in his examination
- Yeah I bet Sid would love th …
Without warning, the weasel pulls Crash down to the ground. In reaction, Eddie was not surprised, but annoyed, following the two others' hunting stance shortly after.
- I never get to enjoy that …
- Look at these, lads
Using a stick, Buck highlights a peculiar shape of a pawprint among the other ones.
C – That's no good …
« That's our liberation » there was an elegance in his words that was weirding out the possum pair, exchanging funny looks.
But there was still something off in Buck's attitude, as if he was trying to imitate his past self, but forgetting what made him special back there. The shy smile he displayed was expressing so much.
E – What's that thing ?
A frustrating silence followed, making Crash hesitant on whether disrupting his master's concentration would be a good idea.
5 seconds later …
C – What is th …
B – That's a Micropachycephalosaurus
More white noise, Crash was lost, Eddie was looking giddy.
E – You sure about that ?
B – No
Another weird eye exchange followed. Buck was still processing the ground.
E – You think we're followed ?
Buck was ready to talk, but a loud high pitched growl disrupts the whole cave. It sounded as if it was coming from the sea.
Instinctively, Buck covers Crash's mouth with his right hand. Shortly after, Crash does the same to Eddie, accidentally shoving mud in the process. Spitting out instantly, he lashes on to Crash, but the fight is cut short by Buck's two steady hands keeping the twins in check onto the ground, his eyes widened, adrenalized.
PRECIOOOOOUS
Not too far away in the natural conducts, the old Granny was waddling around in the unknown, nonchalantly sucking a giant piece of honey with help of a solid stick.
- Here girl ! Mamma has a present for you !
Hearing no reply in return, she starts to firmly tap her walking stick, creating reverbs in every parts of the underground labyrinth. It was now the fifth time she was walking the same trail, no signs of exhaustion to declare.
The cry was back in a higher volume, creating an even bigger earthquake down there.
Looking right, looking left, she heard that one alright. A mild silence, then back to some talking
- Why so shy, Precious ? Did you have a bad dream ?
Another cry broke the silence, only weaker.
Sid was awake, confused naturally.
- Guys ?
Looking around him, he was like having a hangover.
- Ok Diego, I'm sorry for making that tent, can I go home ?
Something hit him over the head. Looking up, drops of water were entering the conducts, from the same hole Sid fell through yesterday.
- Oh …
Back to Granny, she was finally making progress : an ascending trail was leading to a source of light, that was the mission right now. Only this passage was present too the whole time, and it took our purple sloth another 2 laps to take notice of it. No signs of fatigue yet again, that's quite amazing.
She was out, a new exciting adventure ahead, and Sid's reach was now even farther than he could have hoped.
- I'm going to stuff you real good Precious !
An innocent cackle followed right after
Still glued to the ground, the trio was like hit by lightning, unable to process this insanity while the last distorted laughs of Granny died out in the darkness of the tunnels.
Silence was to be given, no way were the possums unchanged from this encounter.
C – …. Is the witch gone ?
E – I think she burned …
Crash's wide eyeballs stared at Eddie.
C – She lives !
E – Inside those walls ?
« Shhhhhh ! » Crash was quick to cover Eddie's mouth before 'It was too late'. They both were now worried about the possible haunting that could occur at any second.
- Possums …
They shrieked, but Buck was looking at them annoyed, standing close to one of the open caveats, having a clear view of the coast.
- There's an odd rock that needs examination over here !
Reality slowly coming back in their minds, they joined him to examine the problem.
E – Well that's one big pile of rocks.
« Teeth » corrected Crash. It didn't take long before the two of them started making sounds of apprehension and hugging it out, only to come back to the problem shortly after.
B – What kind of dinosaur is that ?
C – It's a whale
B – What's a whale ?
C – It's a pet
Short silence
B – Neat …
E – If I remember correctly, that's Granny's …
B – We could ride that creature into battle !
C – I don't think it can walk on land
B – Crash, it's a pet, you can teach it anything …
Looking at Buck, then looking back at Precious, he nodded in awe
C – Neat
E – But it already has an owner …
"Ownership is earned by war, with blood, sweat and tears …" speaking very elegantly, he was making a story with his hands, while keeping a relaxed face altogether
E – Sid's grandma owns it
B – ... Yeah scrap that , forgot about rule 63
The possums stared at Buck with passion
C – Hey, who's that ?
From the view, you had Precious appearing and disappearing from the frame, plunging and emerging time and time again, it's mouth wide open like it was expecting something. Somebody else joined the frame though.
E – Hey, that's Peaches …
C – Dude, that's Meghan
In self-deprecating irony, Eddie responded back, miserably
E – Yeah, but imagine if it was Peaches, Manny would have been so happy …
Trying to find positivity in the ordeal, Crash broke the silence
C – We lost her for …. less than 24 hours ?
E – Crash, he's gonna kill us
M – There !
In fulfilling fashion, Manny pointed to the exact same coast with his trunk, from the other side of the island.
S – That whale …
Trudging back and forth to the coast view, Manny was having another panic attack,
M – She's not here, why is she not here ?
S – Manny ….
M – She can't be gone, what did I …
S – Manny !
The mammoth stood still, his head turned towards Shira. She didn't expect it to work that fast ; the surprise made her lose confidence.
S – I owe you my life, she's not to die under my eye, I guarantee it.
Manny's expression went from panic to doubt, looking away, examining a tight barrage of vines, blocking a potential pathway.
M – Those were some nice words ….
Testing the vegetation with the pressure of his trunk, he then returned to the coast view, checking if there were any new figures : none.
- …. But we'll need to find another way then if we want to know where she is. That path straight up sucks
S – The only other one we found, it reeked of a bad scent, we can't go back.
Considering her for second, then looking at vines, he sighted loudly. But something else was bothering him too, he then realized something, and straight up dug his trunk in his eyes by frustration.
M – We didn't even consider a meeting point for the others …
Shira couldn't say anything, she stood put, wondering what to do. Words couldn't muster anything now, she decided to act.
Hearing branches tearing, Manny turned to face Shira, doing her part in creating the path, chewing and slicing the green. It wasn't long before he decided to join in, exercising his trunk before the effort.
While the duo was at work, a group of silhouettes joined the first one on the littoral, and a smaller one was catching up. They acted concerned about Precious …
- Looks about right
A quiet stream, a great tree, an uphill path, rocky passage. Lost interest in describing this. To imagination folks, cheers !
I'm so sorry …
Back to our intrigue, Diego and Ellie were up too, still looking for Sid. The rain now a thing of the past, our saber could work out his scent just fine. A yawn disrupted his concentration
E - You slept well ?
He turned to Ellie, meters away from him at the back. Surprisingly, she yawned back in return. She looked slightly embarrassed. Diego knew very well on the other hand that his state was not due to a lack of sleep.
D – I actually did !
He smiled comfortably, Ellie turned to look on the side, shaking her head.
E – I have to be constantly reminded of Manny in my dreams, can't believe he keeps me awake at night.
His companion chuckled, looking back straight ahead, stopping in the middle of his tracks to then consider the environment I just told you about. He wanted to hide it ; his mouth was leaking of saliva ; swallowing it, that wasn't going to help his hunger to calm down.
His scent was not looking for Sid anymore, but for any given prey in his perimeter. The pair was in unknown territory.
Distress was keeping him still. Looking at the ground, mouthing negations, shaking his head, pupils out of control …
His stomach called for attention, that made him stiff even more, fearing what his companion might say.
He turned to her, trying to remain as composed as ever.
- Diego, what's wrong ?
She was looking worried, but it was a more genuine concern for Diego's state than hers.
- Nothing ….
The silence never felt more terrifying.
- We have to climb those rubbles, it's going to be rough.
She looked at the path, then at him, tilting her head, perplex.
- Okay …
Leading the way, the saber tooth tiger was betting on the best path to borrow for the mammoth, while still trying to maintain a stable state of mind. He couldn't look at her, his head still shaking in disbelief.
A loud noise occurred
A collapse
A cry for help
A voice hindered
No sound
No more
Downhill
Down below
Alone forever