Chapter 3: Island of the Wild
"If you ever do that again, I'm gonna stick a damn collar and leash on you. You scared me half to death with that damn stunt you pulled. If I don't ever have too, I'm leaving you on your island and never coming back." I winced when she said that and pouted down to her.
"Ouch, my pride. You know that island won't be the same without your constant ranting about bulldozing down everything, even Christopher likes you now." She growled and pulled back to level a heavy glare at me.
"Your pet is absolutely crazy and I swear he enjoys scaring me every chance he gets." She shouted, silently cursing Christopher in her head.
"Well, I'm sure we can work on that when we get back. That is if Mr. Stark over there would let us leave?" I asked curiously towards the billionaire. He quickly stood from his hiding spot behind the bench before Lucy could see. He cleared his throat to make a sarcastic remark but was interrupted by Steve.
"Actually, you need to see Director Fury before you can leave. There will be a debriefing and paperwork to fill out before you can leave." I paused, tilting my head to the side as I tried to think about where I had heard that name before.
"Director Fury? That sounds familiar. Lucy, didn't we meet a man by the name of Fury at my island? He kind of just showed up. Dark-skinned, right? With an eye patch and really serious attitude?" Steve nodded as Tony stared at me in shock.
"Fury found your island? How the hell did he manage that? I just don't understand this. One doesn't simply find your island. Hell, I still can't find it." I chuckled at him before looking up to the sky.
"He followed Hal and Lucy there. The island still scrabbles with sensors but he managed to follow them through the electric storm. The funny thing is that he ended up jumping out of his plane to get to my island. Poor guy hit the ice water instead of the beach. Had to wait two days for him to warm up enough." A smile stretched over my face as I spotted a plane with mirror tech flying overhead, silent as the wind.
"Anyway, I'm willing to wait but I want food and a bed sometime today. My feet can't bear the pain any longer!" I cried dramatically as I stretched over Hal's arms to appear to "faint" which caused Hal and Lucy to snort.
"Such a drama queen, well you heard her. Food and bed now stark." Lucy barked as she leveled a glare with him.
"Why me?" he pouted as Lucy raised her hand and started to tick off her fingers.
"Your business meeting, Alien Attack, Alcohol, and you're a freaking billionaire." He shrugged as he turned and started to walk away from the park.
"True, well, I know this great shawarma place just down the road. Let's just hope it wasn't destroyed in the attack." With that, we all headed towards food and warmth.
The next week passed by so quickly. I meet Fury, shocked him when he saw my face before he proceeded to throw a notebook at me, demanding that I write down everything that happened before the attack and during. So, the next few days were spent filling that notebook with everything I could think of that had relevance to the attack and the week before that transpired. Tony was kind enough to give me a room during that week. It had been strangely quiet in the tower, most of its residents out and helping with the debris or filling out paperwork.
By the end, I was dead tired and felt that my fingers were going to break if I wrote another sentence. When Fury gave me the go-ahead to leave, I all but ran out of that room towards the deck. Hal and Lucy were already there with my wonderful plane, Silver Lining. That poor plane had been through the worst with me and was my home for the first year I lived on my island. There were several storms we had made it through that could have torn a commercial airplane apart. Thankfully my little Cessna made it through with little more than a few scrapes and scratches. Her body glittered as I jumped into the pilot seat and started to prepare the plane for takeoff.
"HEY! Aren't you forgetting something?" I turned to Lucy, who was pouting at me. I frowning, anxious to get home.
"I don't think so, I've got you two. What else could I be forgetting?" She pointed outside where the Avengers were standing, watching us. I stared before looking at my plane.
"Right...Guess I'll drive the other plane. Do you guys want Stark or Bruce? Remember anger and fear have the same effect on him." Lucy glowered before getting out and grabbing Tony by the ear and throwing him into the plane as soon as I got out. I blinked and watched as Silver took off down the strip and out into the ocean. I growled, walking towards one of the Quinjets.
"Come on guys, we got quite a flight and I personally don't want to wait much longer. If SHE gets there first, I'll be dead before I land this hunk of junk." I sighed, knocking on the Quinjet as I entered and took over the cockpit. One by one, the rest of the Avengers filed in and took their seats. Clint walked up and sat in the Co-pilot seat, gearing up to help me fly the plane.
"Just a warning. When we hit the storm, don't try to help me. You don't know where everything is, I'd hate to crash this poor thing on its first flight." He looked to me bewildered but was quick to reply.
"Okay, but if you're trying to kill us I won't hesitate to kill you. Just a warning." I smiled at the threat before calling to the rest in the back.
"It'll take two hours to reach the island. The last half hour is going to be rough so I suggest getting some sleep while you can." A few of the Avengers took my advice and settled in as we took off. The next hour and a half passed without incident as we flew over the Pacific Ocean. However, I could see a storm in the distance, swirling grey clouds that flashed with lightning. I smiled in anticipation, guiding the plane closer towards the storm's howling winds. One particularly loud clap of thunder woke the Avengers in the back, causing me to chuckle quietly.
"Everyone, hold on tight and don't let go, it's about to get rough." As soon as I finished saying that, the plane began to rise as the wind pulled us closer. I smacked Clint's hands as they instinctively reached out to steer the plane.
"No, we need to go up and around. Just take deep breaths and don't grab anything. We're about to hit the fun part." I yanked backward, forcing the plane to do a roll before we started to dive into the storm. Its roaring winds and heavy rain pelted on the window as I tried to keep the plane on a straight course. I could hear shouting in the back and held my breath that Mr. Green would wait a few minutes before coming out to play. The plane shuddered and shook as we started to see the ocean closing in on us. I smiled and positioned myself to the pull.
"Hold on!" I shouted to everyone as I watched our plane fall closer and closer to the ocean below. Shouts of protests rang throughout the plane before being cut off as I pulled hard, trying to pull the plane with me. Just a second before hitting the water, we pulled up and follow the ocean surface towards the island that soon came into view.
"We're here!" I shouted in glee before beginning to pull up. The storm circled around and above the island, leaving a protective barrier. The eye of the storm left a large patch of clear sky and sun which lit over the whole island. The Island itself wasn't very large, a decent size with a volcano rested on one end. It gently sloped down to cover the rest of the island in green. A large house sat on the other end of the island. Hand built, with two floors and seven bedrooms, the house seems simple and welcoming. A smaller house rested beside it, covered by a small forest. We soon began our descent down, moving towards the volcano. Clint moved at that moment, looking around for something.
"What's up? Need something?" I asked, watching him push a small button between us. When nothing happened, Clint pressed it a few more times before looking at me confused.
"How do you open that thing? Or is it an automated door?" I looked at him in confusion before bursting out laughing. I snorted as I adjusted our angle to miss the volcano.
"That's an active volcano, it's not a landing pad dear. I made everything here on my own and I don't want to disturb the only thing that could destroy it. There's a landing strip closer to the house." I began to turn the plane with one wing almost touching the volcano as we looped back towards the house.
"Then why did we go to the volcano?" I smiled before pointing out the window to the ground. He looked and was stunned to see herds of animals moving towards the house with us. There were a few wolves who were keeping up with the plane, while some of the slower animals walked behind us as I flipped out the landing gear.
"Have to let the neighbors know I'm home. They get so worried sometimes, plus it lets Christopher know that I've got guests." I stated as we slowly approach the ground. A bump and a few squeals later, we landed and made our way out of the plane.
"Now, nothing should try to hurt you. This is only the small predator group that roams this island. If you need help with things, let them know. Stark helped me with a small project a while ago that allows animals to understand our words. No, it doesn't allow them to talk back but they are more expressive since they understand our words more." I noticed Christopher walking up behind the guests.
"Christopher, if you scare these folks, they won't hesitate to turn you into a pelt. Everyone this is Christopher, he is an ocelot." They turned around to find Christopher behind them with his head down low. His tail swished in agitation as he slinked forwards towards me. I patted his head and started looking up to the sky.
"Lucy's not here yet?" Christopher shook his head and looked back in the direction we came from with only dark swirling clouds filling my vision.
Lucy's POV
The plane shuddered with the force of the winds around us as I tried to guide the plane through the isolated storm. A sense of fear welled inside of me as I tried to keep my cool without shouting at Stark. My nerves were frazzled from the attack and Stark's non-stop chatter while Hal was trying to help me pilot our little plane. My mind raced as I thought back to how often Mara would fly this little plane without so much as a flinch as the wind and rain pounded on the window.
"Stark! If you don't shut your trap within the next few seconds, I'll have Hal throw you out of this plane!" I cried as I yanked on the steering column, just missing a bolt of lightning that tried to hit the engine. I took deep breaths to try and collect myself as we came upon the main column of the storm. I internally grumbled to myself trying to figure out how the heck I ended up doing these kinds of things. Many fond memories sprang forward as our plane began to lift and fly towards the top of the funnel.
"You about ready Hal? It's almost time." I stated as I focused on the peak that soon came into view. Hal nodded behind me and reached around to grab onto the steering column with me as we hit the peak. We broke through, flying into bright blue skies and rivers of white clouds. The view only lasted for a second before the plane was sucked back into the storm. We pulled hard and turned the plane around to face the water below. Its dark waters glimmered as we were twirled and thrown towards it. With a cry, I and Hall yanked on the steering column with all the strength we had. The plane pulled up just in time to skim the surface with a tiny splash. However, it only took me a second to scream as the plane was pulled under as the wings dipped into the water once more, pulling us under the dark waves.
I blacked out as we hit the water with the full force of a semi-truck, only feeling the jerk of my seat as Hal rammed into it.
Mara's POV
I shuddered at the cold feeling I ran down my spine, a small amount of fear rising and slowly building inside of me. I raced out of the house, ignoring my guests as I took off towards the beach. It took a moment but when I arrived, the fear inside me grow tenfold as I noticed a silver dot on the horizon. It glimmered from the water and didn't move any closer, causing me to run off towards the dock near the volcano. A speedboat and larger trawler boat came into view as I heard shouting from behind me. My thoughts were running a mile a minute and refused to let me think about the people behind me who could not help.
"Take the Trawler! I've got a speedboat. And don't follow me into that storm!" I shouted, cutting the rope of the speedboat before vaulting onto the speedboat and kicking it to life. A second thump shook the boat before I put it in reverse and shot backward. Shifting gears, I revved the engine and took off towards the silver glimmer in the distance at a breakneck pace. The waters around me seemed to part before me as I upped the speed, feeling dread mix in with the fear in my heart. Soon, the sky darkened and rain began to pelt my boat. I felt a hand on my shoulder, warmth spreading through my soaked shirt. I yanked back the throttle, seeing my plane sticking out of the ocean. I gasped and ran to the front of the boat, pulling open a compartment and grabbing three deflated lifejackets. Again the hand appeared on my shoulder, causing me to jerk and roar at the man with me. Steve stared in surprise before grabbing one of the vests and looking towards the unsteady water around us. I wasted no time and leaped over the side, popping my head out of the water to see Steve jump in after me. We looked at each other for a second before I looked to the water below. I pulled two glowsticks out of the pockets of the life vests, cracking both and handing one to him.
"Follow the light, I'll find them," I shouted before putting mine around my wrist with a death knot and dove into the icy waters below. My mind was in overdrive as I dove deeper into the icy waters. My plane was sinking quickly, its glimmering wings the only I could see. A peak jetted through the water below, catching the sinking plane just above the frozen abyss. I kicked harder, reaching a hand out to feel my plane. She shuddered under my touch, the groaning could be heard through the water. Glimmering glass shards drifted down slowing, drawing my attention to the window where I could see.
Swimming through the broken window, I pulled a knife out and started cutting the belts holding everyone down. Lucy was passed out as Hal slowly struggled with his belt. His gaze flickered over to me before Cap reached him and yanked the belt off. I quickly worked through Lucy's and just finished cutting through Stark's when the groaning grew louder. Thinking quickly, I dragged Lucy out and placed one of the lifevests around her neck before pulling the cord. In seconds the lifejacket was pulling her to the surface. With air running out, I clambered into the plane quickly and jerked Stark out before popping a vest on him too and following his ascent to the surface. The legs of Steve could be seen at the surface as he pulled Hal and Lucy out of the water. The ship was shaking violently with the harsh waves as we neared the surface.
Just as I breached the water, Stark was being pulled out by the captain's strength. Before I could react, I too was lifted from the waters and deposited into a wet ship.
"Thanks." I rushed about working to turn the ship as I shouted at Steve to check the compartments at the front of the ship.
"There should be a bright orange buoy somewhere on this hunk of junk!" I shouted. As if in retaliation, a rough rock from the ship sent a smack of salt water into my face. Doing my best to ignore the sting, I grabbed the buoy the captain found before cutting off the anchor and tying them together.
"BE BACK IN A SEC!" My words came out in a rush as I leaped into the icy waters once more, sinking to the gleaming bird in the water. Tying the buoy to one of the wings to help balance it, I returned to the surface. It only took me a second to find my island before I was blasting off again towards the calm. The rain soon calmed before disappearing as we entered my safe space. With a drop in thrust, I turned my attention back to the three on deck. Hal had recovered and was looking at Lucy worriedly. Moving quickly, I reached her side and checked her pulse. Hardly feeling the flutter, I worked on CPR while I heard shouting from the Trawler. My vision narrowed to Lucy and Hal as I repeated the important maneuver to help her. At first, nothing happened, but after a min, a small gasp before Lucy was spitting out water that brought Hal out of his stupor. With a quick hand, he rolled her to the side as we both released a sigh of relief.
"Thank God. Stark?" A sputtering cough called up in answer showing Tony was still kicking. I flopped onto the deck with a deep sigh, taking a second to calm down as everyone tried to recover their breath. Warming under the sun, I sat up slowly before moving to guide us back to shore.
"Well. If that's not an entrance, I don't know what is. But you are never flying my damn plane again." A soft laugh echoed from the front of the speeder as Lucy pushed herself up with Hal's help.
"You're not allowed to let anyone fly through that ever! I want a vacation for this mess." She groaned in an attempt at sarcasm. I smiled at the effort and let out a chuckle.
"Well, congratulations, I think you just got your wish."