Strange Forces Prevail...
Kip woke up in a very good mood. No back pain from the years of carpentry and construction, no hacking coughs from the years of inhaling sawdust. Granted he was still a little groggy from the pleasantly deep sleep, that didn't lessen his happiness. Slipping on his light blue robe and black slippers, he walked out of the his room and proceeded down the stairs to the kitchen. Opening the fridge he grabbed the carton of orange juice and noticed a little post-it stuck to it.
Pulling it off, he read it while shutting the fridge door. 'Kip, I love you, but if you drink from the carton again I will put liquid laxative in your drinks and food again. Love, Pip.' Kip sighed, knowing she would make good on the loving threat, set the carton on the black granite counter tops and sleepily padded his way to the where the cups were held. Opening the cabinet, he noticed that there were no cups on the shelves. Sighing again he turned to the dish rack next to the sink and pulled off a cup and went back to his carton of orange juice. Setting the cup down, he opened the fridge only to find no juice. 'That's right, I already took it out...'
Searching the counter tops, he found no juice at all. Kip could feel his good mood falling fast. Searching through the fridge again, he failed to notice a certain raccoon climb up to the counter top and stare at Kip, the cartoon of juice in his teeth. Sitting down next to the cup, he pulled the stopper of and guzzle a good bit, then burping quite loudly for a little guy.
Kip stopped rummaging through the fridge upon hearing said burp. Retracting his head, he looked over at the raccoon in stoic silence. Standing straight up he looked at the juice in the raccoons hand, then back to the raccoon. The raccoon looked to it's hand. Chittering, it set the juice on the counter and pushed it towards Kip.
Kip blinked a few times, before robotically trudging up the stairs to granddaughters' room. The raccoon hopped down and followed the old Irish man.
Pip was sprawled out on her pillow bed, her maroon blanket tossed to the side during her sleep. She awakened to the harsh sound of knocking at the door. Moaning in displeasure, she rolled over and covered her head with one of the many pillows. When the knocking persisted she sat up and groaned loudly.
"What?" Pip noticed she was still in her clothes from yesterday and really needed a shower. Kip opened the door and looked at her sleepily
"I think we have a visitor." The raccoon shot between Kip's legs and leaped into Pip's lap.
"Why did you let him out of the cage?" Pip petted the raccoon on the head and looked to her grandfather.
"Whats cage? I didn't see a cage. It was just sitting on the counter drinking from the orange juice carton." Kip stepped into the room and sat on the chair next the desk, then added "Are you going to give the poor thing laxatives as well?" Pip laughed loudly, cradling the raccoon in her arms and standing.
"Must have not locked it then I guess. And of course not! It doesn't do it every morning." she gave a pointed look to Kip and headed downstairs. Kip stood and followed.
"Hardly fair in my book. Where'd you find him?"
"He snuck in through my window last night, I guess. I'm taking it to the vet today before releasing him back into the forest. He's really scrawny, maybe he's sick." The raccoon nuzzled into Pips arms and yawned. Pip walked into the kitchen and set the little escape artist back in the cage. The raccoon made a noise of what may have been irritation, but just yawned again, curled into a ball and went to sleep. Kip, finally feeling awake surveyed the kitchen. There was a pile of shredded paper by the table, and it seemed every cup and plate was in the sink. Grabbing the orange juice that the raccoon left on the counter, he poured it down the drain. 'Raccoon backwash... Ew.' Sitting the carton on the counter he set off to make some Irish breakfast tea.
Pip grabbed the bowl in the cage and filled it with fresh water. Double checking to make sure she locked the door, she walked into the living room and grabbed the phonebook and searched the yellow pages for a local vet. Finding one she grabbed the cordless phone and dialed the number.
"Patriotic Pets Veterinary , This is Amy speaking." the voice over the phone said.
"Hi, I'm calling to make an appointment."
"Uh-huh, what is your name, and middle initial?"
"Ainfean Kearney, A-I-N-F-E-A-N, K-E-A-R-N-E-Y. Middle initial is B. "
"Well, that's an interesting name, what is it?"
"Irish" Pip said proudly.
"I like it, very exotic. What is the animal?" Pip hesitated in answering.
"It's a raccoon..." there was a moment of silence until she faintly heard the women asking if they treated raccoons.
"M'kay and what's its name?" 'Oh no, I don't have a name for him!' Trying to think of a name for him, she thought of the bath and tea garden resort she went to last summer.
"Chozu! It's name is Chozu."
"Alrighty then, we had a cancellation today at 9:45 so its open, for Dr. Calvin, if that's good for you?" Pip, looked at the grandfather clock standing next to the window. 8:15.
"That's wonderful. Thank you!"
"No problem Ms. Kearney, have a wonderful morning."
"You too." Pip hung up the phone and exhaled deeply. Just enough time to shower and drive to the vet. Placing the phone on the charger, she hefted herself off the plush, deep purple couch and headed back to the kitchen.
Kip was sitting at the table with the paper and tea mug just as he was yesterday when she got home and the other morning, and everyday before that. 'I bet if you slit his wrist he'd bleed tea...' Pip snickered at her dark thought, which didn't go unnoticed by the old man.
"Make an appointment?" Kip flipped through the paper. Pip sat across from him and grabbed his tea as usual. Sipping the slightly sweet tea, she hummed a yes.
"In about an hour, I'm going to get ready. How much gas is in the car?" Pip set the mug down and turned to look at the raccoon in the cage. He was no longer curled in a ball, but splayed out on it's stomache.
"It's a quarter under empty so you should be good. Ill make you some croissants to eat on the way there." Kip grabbed his mug and sipped the tea.
"Thanks Kip." Pip left the kitchen and walked to the the bathroom. It was blight blue and chrome themed. Very futuristic. Pulling the curtain over, she turned the water on full blast. Stripping out of her clothes from yesterday. Stepping in to the shower she winced at the hot water, but quickly felt her muscles relax. Reaching for her loofah and body wash, she squeezed the eucalyptus and mint wash onto the loofah and scrubbed herself. The strong scent seemed to awaken her and made her skin tingle. Washing her hair with a mint shampoo, she rinsed off in cold water to get her blood flowing.
Reaching for the grey towel on the wall rack, she wrapped her self and brushed her teeth. Gather her clothes she walked to her room and went the her dresser. Pulling out a sports bra, girl boxers, a dark green tank top, and loose black cargo pants. Dressing quickly, looked at her self in the full length mirror. Her ginger hair looked a shade darker from the shower. Her bright green eyes were large, giving her an innocent look, but they held a glint of mischievousness. Her skin was pale, even though she was outside a lot, but she did have lean muscles. Slipping on socks and her black hikers, she brushed her hair and grabbed her Flogging Molly wallet, cell pone, mp3, and her necklace with the family crest, a fox in the foreground and a pair of arrows crossed in the back. Gilded ivy surrounded the son the outsides and the words 'Certa tempestate' embossed the outer rim. It was completely silver. Hooking the necklace on and turned to walk out her door. She stopped however when she saw a deep purple bandana hanging from her doorway. Grabbing it she walked downstairs.
Kip pulled the microwavable croissants out of the microwave and tossed one to Pip, who juggled the hot bread until she could hold it with out burning her hand. Kip laughed and grabbed one himself only to burn his hand.
"KARMA!" Pip shouted with a laugh. Opening the cage that Chozu was in she slipped the bandana around his neck and tied it on, nodding in satisfaction, she grabbed the car keys, and the cage were the raccoon still slept and said goodbye as Kip cradled his burnt hand.
Pip placed the raccoon on the passenger side and went round to the driver side. Cranking the car on she turned on the radio and drove to the vet.
Kip's hand still hurt as he went to the living room and sat on the deep purple couch. Turning the TV on the news he was meet with the sight of the attractive weather lady saying that a massive storm was approaching Oregon, and would make landfall in two hours. The storm system, was approaching fast and people should try and hunker down as soon as possible, or this could possibly the worst storm that the west coast has had in 20 years.
Kip immediately called Pip's cell only for it to go straight to voice mail. Relaying his knowledge of the storm he could only hope she got his message soon.
He went out to the shed to make preparations for the storm.
"Chozu..." a women stepped from behind the door and waited for the owner to stand she sighed and repeated the name again. Once again not receiving she looked at the sheet and called the owners last name
"Kearney?" Pip perked up and stood.
"Here," she picked up the cage and carried the raccoon named Chozu, through the doorway to an open room. The vet assistant looked a bit nervous near the raccoon, and said the vet would be in shortly.
Pip opened the cage and began to rub the raccoons back. It yawned and looked at her sleepily. Pip gave a lop sided smile and continued to pet Chozu. The vet walked in and greeted Pip.
"So why are we here today, Ms. Kearney?" the vet was maybe in his late thirties, with brown hair that was slightly greying.
"I found this guy last night in my house and wanted to make sure he was okay. He doesn't seem rabid, just very underfed." Pip scratched Chozu behind the ear. Chozu sat up sleepily and looked to Pip. She smiled and looked at the doctor. "I just want to know if hes healthy. And if you could give him shots as well. I can pay for them, trust me." Pip added when the vet gave her an odd look.
"Alright you can stay or head back to the lobby." Dr. Calvin picked up Chozu who immediately began to chatter and thrash fervidly in an attempt to escape, reaching out to Pip. Pip rubbed her neck and laughed, embarrassed.
"I guess I should stay."
"Well even though he's underfed he seems healthy. No heart worms, no parasites, rabies, not even fleas. You said he snuck in your house?" the vet looked up from his clipboard
"Yep." Pip was hugging a disgruntled Chozu to her chest, his legs dangling from under her arms. He was growling slightly at the vet for prodding him with needles. "Hush." Pip hugged the raccoon a bit closer to her chest.
"Do you have any neighbors that live close by with raccoons? He seems very healthy to be a wild raccoon." Dr. Calvin pushed on. Pip shook her head.
"Were in the kinda deep in the woods. Do you know where Hunter Park is?" Dr. Calvin hung is head.
"Yes I..I do"
"We live close by the old park."
"Well then I can say that in my ten year career, I have never seen a more healthy wold animal. You can go ahead out to Amy and she'll get you set to go. Have a wonderful day Ms. Kearney."
"You too, and thank you." Pip set Chozu into the metal cage and walked to the reception desk.
A very tan women with a peppy voice and bleach blonde hair greeted her.
"Hello there, Ms. Kearney, we spoke on the phone earlier! You're the one with the exotic name!" Pip flushed slightly.
"It's not exotic it's just Irish."
"Well it exotic for Oregon!" Amy the receptionist pushed a clipboard into her hand, "Just find your name where you signed in and sign what time your leaving. Well bill you your total cost for this visit. May I ask what your name means?" Pip looked down in embarrassment.
"Umm it doesn't make much sense really..." Pip checked her cell for the time only to see it was dead. Looking at the wall clock she noticed it was 10:22. 'Wow that took a while...'
"Oh come on," the super peppy blonde whined, "It can't be that bad!" Pip sighed in defeat and stood tall her head held high, to salvage a little pride.
"Ainfean means either storm, fury, or even violence, my middle name is Begley, it means little hero, and my last name Kearney mean fox or victorious." the receptionist laughed a little.
"Wow your name sounds girly but it's so masculine! I'm sorry I really am but Begley? That's so manly!" Pip gave a little glare,
"My mother named me after my father, who died during a routine traffic stop. He was a decorated police officer, ma'am." Pip spat out the last word and storm off to her car.
Angrily setting Chozu in the front seat, and slamming the door, she stomped to her side and slid in. She sat in the car in silence. Tears began to pour from her eyes as she repeatedly hit the the steering wheel in anger and sadness. After her little fit she rubbed the tears from her eyes and started the car. The wind was blowing very hard and Pip wanted to get home soon.
Pip noticed that hardly anyone was on the road or on the streets. She got a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach, trying hard not to floor the gas home.
'Somethings not right...'
Chozu was pacing in the cage and making whining noises, looking from Pip to the sky and to Pip again.
'Defiantly not right.'
Kip sat in the living room watching the local news. He had boarded up all the windows and the generator ready in case of the electricity going out. The whole state of Oregon and and parts on southern Washington were completely covered in red and green patches, indicating where the storm was worst.
"...Lightning has struck ground several times in the area, and the winds are in excess of 22 miles per hour. Rain has made landfall on the coast, and already we are experiencing flooding. Weather experts say the storm shouldn't last long but it will cause some serious problems and damage. We advise you stay insi-..." Kip muted the TV. Pip hadn't returned his call, and the storm was going to hit town very soon.
Walking to the window, he peeped out between the boards in hopes of seeing the car and Pip pull up, instead he saw black storm clouds looming ominously overhead. Kip pulled out his pocket watch with the family crest and rubbed the Latin words.
"Fight The Storm... I have a bad feeling..."
Kip looked up and out the slot on the window.
"Please be okay, Ainfean..."
"You gotta be fucking kidding me!" Pip yelled and hit the steering wheel. The car had broken down three miles from the house and it was pouring rain and the winds were raging. Pip looked at the gas meter.
"The gas! I forgot to fill the gas tank!" Pip yelled to no one in particular. Chozu was going erratic in his cage, looking to Pip and chattering loudly. Pip opened the glove compartment and grabbed the oversized poncho. Slipping it on she stepped out the door and walked to the passenger side door. Unlocking the latch to the cage Chozu jumped out and into Pip's arms, chattering and looking around frightfully.
Pip slid him under the poncho and began to job up the road to the house. The wind changed the direction of the rain and it began to pelt painfully at Pip's face. Turning her back to the rain she began to look for an alternative route.
'The park! I can head to the park!' Pip picked up her pace and ran through the trees to her park. The sky was darkening as it began to rain harder, the only substantial light came from the flashes of lightning. The wind picked up, whipping Pip's poncho in a frenzy blowing sodden leaves all around the trees and obscuring Pip's vision further. Once or twice she accidentally ran into a tree, or stumbled over a tree root, falling to her knees. All this time she hadn't let go of Chozu who was whimpering and looking at the sky through the clear plastic poncho in fear.
Pip managed to make in to the old park. All her tools lay hidden under leaves and shallow pools of water. Pip ran to the most prominent part of the old wooden playground, the main playhouse, which Pip had did the most work to.
Climbing up the short flight of steps she settled under the roof top and set Chozu down on the small bench that was built into the original design. The storm was raging harder then ever, everything was soaked. Pip looked around the muddy landscape and found a large blue tarp. Thinking she could nail it to the structure to give her more shelter from the rain she began to climb back down. Chozu leapt forward and grabbed the the sleeve of the poncho.
"I'll be right back!" Pip hollered over the howling winds. Chozu pulled harder and Pip just shooed him away. "Stop!"
Rushing to her tarp she found a flaw in her little plan, she didn't know where her hammer and nails were. Curing loudly she picked up the tarp and dragged it behind her looking through the mud for the tools. A flash of lightning streaked through the sky directly over head and Pip began to panic. Her heart racing she started for the tree she was lying in the other day, hoping maybe she left them there. Another flash of lightning lit up the old park and a loud crash of thunder sounded, making Pips heart race faster. At the base of the tree she began to circle around when she felt a tug at her soaked pants.
Chozu had one hand wrapped around the hem and was trying to run forward. Pip picked him up to her eye level told him to stop. The raccoon squeal loudly and began hitting at her wrists when a another flash of lightning struck again, only this time it hit a tree branch above Pip. Pip struggled to get away but slipped in the mud and landed on her stomach. She rolled to her back only to see a large branch fall directly over her vision.
Everything went black.
"I'm telling ya' I totally could've taken them!" a loud voice shouted through the forest.
"You wimped out, you loser." an apathetic voice retorted.
"Stop calling me a loser! I'll show you I'm not a loser. You and me! Right here, right now!" there was a loud crack heard through the forest.
"Sakura!" the first voice whined
"Naruto, you IDIOT!" the voice known as Sakura yelled.
Team three was returning from their mission to the mist, tired form the work but happy for a job well done. Currently, Naruto was holding his reddened cheek, crying dramatically. Sakura was glaring at Naruto, red in the face from anger, and the third teammate, Sasuke, rolled his eyes at the scene in front of him. The only adult in the troupe was reading a book attempting to block out the noise around him.
'I'm almost home, I'm almost home, I'm almos- What was that?'
"Guys be quiet." The teens wouldn't hush. Naruto began crying to Sakura declaring he was superior to Sasuke, and Sakura was screaming something about no one being better then her Sasuke.
"Guys... Guys... SHUT UP!" Kakashi shouted to the preteens, they all stopped and stared at their sensei, wide eyed.
"I heard something..." they all stopped listening carefully. The wind blew faintly, making the trees to rustle faintly.
"I don't he-" Naruto was shushed by Kakashi's hand.
Just when Kakashi was going to play it off to the wind they heard a faint voice in the forest cry out.
"Help me..."
Kakashi turned to his kids and gave the command.
"Spread out and search for anyone in trouble. Call out IMMEDIATELY if you find anyone." With that Team seven jumped into action spreading out into the direction of the voice.
Pip woke up to something wet on her cheek. She felt a crushing weight on her abdomen and a lighter weight on her chest. Opening her eyes her was face to muzzle to Chozu but he was very blurry. He kept shaking her face and licking her cheek. Looking down she saw a huge tree branch pinning her to the ground. Pip attempted to sit up until she felt a shooting pain run up her legs to her lower ribs. Pip cried out in pain and lied herself back on the ground, tears of pain and frustration pouring out.
She felt dizzy and she was beginning to see double. Chozu had moved to the side of her face and was rubbing her head in an attempt to comfort her.
"You know, Chozu" Pip breathed out, "you act very...human.. yeah that's it... human." Pip closed her eyes as she felt a wave of pain roll up her body and passed out.
She woke up a short time later with no changes in pain whatsoever. Chozu was curled in a ball against her neck. Pip looked around groggily.
It wasn't raining anymore and the sky looked very and sunny, as if the storm never happened. She was still soaking wet, but her poncho was ripped up. Pip tried to move her arms but as soon as she did, a dizzy spell fell over her and she cried out again. Lying in silence she wondered if Kip was okay. 'He can't cook for the life of him, I bet he's at the table with a cup of pomegranate tea... that sounds nice... some tea.' Pip thought of anything to keep her mind off the pain. Then it hit her.
"Does he know I'm gone..." she thought aloud, "Does anyone know I'm gone." Pip began to panic. No one came to her park. No one knew the trails anymore. The rain would have washed away her scent. Maybe Kip would find her. Or he would tell the search party where she was.
'What if they don't find me...'
Chozu woke up and looked at Pip.
"Hey there." Pip smiled at the raccoon. "At least you're okay." Chozu stood up and stretched, then on all fours ran off, leaving Pip alone.
"No! Please don't go!" Pip shouted out, "I don't want to be alone." Pip felt tears slipping out of her eyes as she fell asleep again.
Pip woke up again and was met with a starry sky and a furry paw on her face. Looking over she saw Chozu seated beside her holding out a small red berry in his paw. Pip looked to the paw then to Chozu who merely gestured to her with his hand.
"What kind of raccoon are you?" Pip attempted a laugh, but ended up couching up something wet. Regaining her breath she opened her mouth and Chozu fed her the berry. It was surprisingly tart, but juicy. Chozu made a zipping noise and held out berry after berry for Pip. After about maybe twenty or so berries, Chozu ran out and curled next to Pip. Pip getting the picture and closed her eyes for sleep again.
Pip woke up to the sun glaring in her eyes. She felt very thirsty, and her mouth was dry. Chozu was on her chest again, looking out towards the forest. Pip closed her eyes and thought to herself of anyone was coming, it had to be a day or two that she has been missing. Then suddenly a voice rang out through the forest.
"...IDIOT!" Pip's heart began to race, someone was coming! Pip gathered all the strength she could muster and cried out.
"HELP!" Pip waited and called again "SOMEBODY! I'M STUCK!" Pip didn't hear anyone again and felt her hope begin to fade, as well as her strength.
"Help me..." Everything went black.
Sakura was jumping through the trees, scanning the ground for any sign of life. She had heard the cry with her teammates and was worried. She circled back around again and slowed her speed, hoping to find anything she missed. She caught a flash of something orange against the green of the forest floor. Coming to a complete stop she saw a girl, trapped under a large tree branch.
"SENSEI! I FOUND SOMEONE!" She cried out jumping to the ground next to the girl.
In less then a second the rest of her team were next to her. The girl looked pretty roughed up, blood was dried up on her mouth and she looked pretty pale.
"Kakashi-sensei..." Sakura looked over to her teacher and clasped her hands together.
"Everyone, pool you medical supplies with mine. Sasuke, Naruto move that branch of of her. GENTLY!" Kakashi gave a pointed look at Naruto who huffed but nodded. The boys reached for the log only to have a raccoon jump down and hiss at them.
"Move Mr. Raccoon, we gotta move this log." The raccoon jumped down and nuzzled himself against the girls cheek. The boys lifted the log, and the girl groaned in pain, causing to the raccoon to hiss loudly at the boys.
Kakashi began to examine the girls body. She looked like hell to say the least.
"Naruto, summon up a few clones, Sakura give me your blanket, now." Naruto nodded his head and Sakura scrambled off to find her bag. Kakashi used a simple medical justu he learned back in his ANBU days and began to stabilize the girl so that she would be okay to move. A simple justu but no easy task. The girl was all banged up on the inside. Plenty of fractures and maybe even a punctured lung.
Sakura returned with the blanket and looked at her teacher.
"Spread it out, Naruto have each of your clones take a corner, okay?" Kakashi looked to Sasuke, "I'm going to need you to help me pick her up alright? Carefully she is very injured."
Kakashi took her upper and middle torso seeing as how they were the most damaged. Sasuke took her legs, and both set her down as gently as possible onto Sakura's blanket. Naruto's clones lifted the blanket into a makeshift stretcher. The raccoon jumped onto Kakashi shoulder and chattered sadly as he looked at the girl.
Kakashi picked up the raccoon to put him down on the ground when a faint voice called out.
"Ch-Chozu..." the raccoon perked up and jumped onto the girls chest, lying down and whimpering sadly.
Kakashi looked to his team and nodded to them, giving them the signal to proceed with the girl back home.
To Konoha.
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I just wanted to thank GEMfaerie and Amanuet for reviewing chapter one. This is my first serious fanfiction and I really appreciate hearing from you guys. THANK YOU! *\(^_^)/* I had to stop myself from writing or I would have a 16 page story instead of 8 hehehe