Chapter Twenty-seven

Somewhere

Ace had fallen and landed on top of the most horrible thing he'd ever seen in his entire life: a gigantic T. Rex! He closed his eyes and tried to go within himself to calm himself. Nothing he'd ever learned had prepared him for this! The T. Rex had roared and tried desperately to dislodge the little man from where he sat in his ear!

How in the Hell did I manage to get in a T. Rex's ear?! he wondered. And where's Kat?! What would she do in a situation like this?! I've never willingly killed an animal before, but this time I may have to! That did not sit too well with Ace for, of all the things he believed in, he believed most in never killing any animal. Humans were different. He hated humans. So did Kat, and that's why their crew had had very few humans on it.

He looked at the puny, little arms on the T. Rex and figured that he was in about the safest place he could be, because the arms were just too short to reach the ear. In fact, the arms were too puny and short to reach anything, and the huge beast kept roaring, shaking its head, Ace clinging for dear life. Then Ace began to detect a different sound in the roaring. It was full of pain, and Ace wondered what the Hell was wrong with the beast. Had it been attacked, and was dying now? He looked downward as far as he could see which was not very far on the huge animal, but there was no blood.

The T. Rex had reached a fallen tree and now was beginning to frantically rub its mouth up and down. Whatever was bothering the huge beastie must be in its mouth, Ace thought, which was the absolute last place Ace wanted to be! He tried to talk to the huge monster, and at first, all he got back was roars. Then the T. Rex grew quiet. It didn't know what was talking to it as Ace was no more than another flea to it.

"Tooth," Ace finally picked up. Something was wrong with the huge monster's tooth, and he knew he'd have to go down for a closer look! Ace started checking his pockets, trying to see if he had anything at all to help, and then realized that his backpack had been returned and was now on his back. He pulled it off and unzipped a pocket. He pulled out a rope before putting his pack back on. He didn't want to lose it or its contents; they were priceless.

A small, tiny rope against a T. Rex? What are you going to do now, smarty pants? He looked at the rope, and he looked at the T. Rex. He knew he could probably lasso one of the arms and get from there down to the ground, but he really didn't want to leave the huge monster in such pain as he was now picking up from the animal. "Can you hear me talking to you, you big, dumb ox? I'm on your head."

The T. Rex then began to hit his head on the tree, trying to dislodge his unwelcome visitor. "I can help you get rid of whatever's causing the pain," Ace told him, "but I've got to get to your mouth first and I don't want to be eaten! I'm not stupid enough to trust you either! We are at an impasse until you decide what we're doing next."

The huge beast roared at Ace. "Get off in the tree! I will lower my head, and you can have a look see."

"I'm not going down there!" Ace told him. "That'll give you a good chance to bite me!"

"I can't bite you! I can't bite anything, and I am starving! It is only a matter of time before I die." Despite what the creature was, Ace found himself feeling sorry for it. No one should have to starve to death, not even a giant T. Rex! "Give me your word you will not eat me, and I'll take a look." He lassoed one of the branches of the tree and pulled himself level with the T. Rex's mouth, praying that he was not going to be the T. Rex's next meal.

Will & Jack's Bedroom

Spike growled. "I need to be there to help her! Can you take me there?" Normally, Kyna could easily handle a nest single-handedly, but he could not help fearing for the woman he loved. "Please?" he ground out.

"No."

Rachel placed a staying hand on Spike's shoulder. He snarled, and she immediately withdrew it and stepped back. "It won't do any good," she tried to tell him. "If it did, do you honestly think we'd be here now? That I wouldn't be with Kitty? That Wolverine wouldn't be with Ororo? Will with Jack? Use your brain; I know you've got one in there."

"Then how the Hell do you plan to get to the freaking North Pole?" At least, he figured that was where they were headed.

"That's different," the mirror told him. "You're allowed to go there."

"So why the Hell can't I go to Kyna?!"

"I am not allowed to let you interfere with their trials."

"I oughta rip ya into shreads!" Spike growled in frustration. His fist went for the mirror, but he found himself unable to make contact.

"Can't let you do it," Rachel told him.

"Release my hand, bitch, before I take out my frustrations on you!"

"Keep showing your ass, and I'll just knock you out." Spike tried to swing at Rachel but could no more make contact with her than he could the mirror. "I'm a telepath, too, so don't tempt me." She smirked at him though she was quaking inside.

"I can smell your fear," he informed her, but his gaze returned to the mirror.

Somewhere

Kurt dropped like a sinking cannonball, spiraling head over feet over and over again until heat rushed up his body. The intense heat felt as though it were trying to burn his very skin off of his body, and his yellow eyes darted around as he tried to figure out where he was at. He continued to fall as he caught sight of smoke, ash, and burning embers. He was just beginning to think that he had been thrown into Hell itself when the hot air rushing all around him knocked him over again so that he was once more falling headfirst. His eyes shot wider than dinner plates as he spied a river of lava running beneath him!

His hands reached out, and his arms flailed madly in the air as he tried to catch on to something to slow his descent. He could find nothing, however, and he continued to fall directly toward the lava of what could only be a volcano! I have to get out of here, and I have to do it now! He did not know what awaited him outside or even where he may end up. He could very well teleport straight into a rock or any other of numerous things that would kill him immediately, but he had to take the risk. The smell of brimstone even greater than the brimstone he himself emitted when he bamfed was assailing his nose as he ported with a silent, hurried prayer that he would land somewhere, anywhere, safer than a volcano!

Somewhere

Smee looked around as he walked slowly through the jungle that he had landed in. Leaves crunched under his feet. He heard the calls of animals but none seemed too close for comfort. He stopped, hearing movement in the brush, but as soon as he stopped, the sound also ceased. He started forward again, and again he heard movement. "Who -- Who's there?!" he called out, his knees knocking together. "Sh-Show yourself!"

Whispering met his ears, but no one appeared. Smee looked down at himself. He didn't even have a weapon, and he didn't have James or even his boys to help him! Maybe he should just let himself be taken by whatever this was? But no, Smee remembered. If he died here, Vang, too, would die. He couldn't let that happen to Zora, who had so bravely stood for his beloved James, nor to Connor, who he knew was beginning to love the big cat. He couldn't repay the tiger's kindness, even if it had been unwarranted and unwanted, by allowing him to be killed.

As Smee broke out into a run, yells lifted up from the brushery. Smee looked behind him as he heard something running after him. He screamed at the sight of a throng of black people who were barely clad in some sort of strange clothing, bones, and paint. He screamed again and turned back around as they started throwing spears. He had to outrun them somehow; it was his only chance! Yet, at the same time, Smee knew he would never make it . . . !

A Bog

The air was filled with a stink worse than any other smell in all creation and the sounds of that stink being released from the mudholes in the Bog. It was the one place in the Labyrinth that Jareth hated to have to go, and now he hung on desperately to a small limb that was dangling above the Bog and threatening to dump him in at any second. He thought it would be very undignified to have to call for help.

Who in this Gods-forsaken land would come to his aid any way? Didymus wasn't here for he would have made himself known already if he was, and Hoggle could be anywhere. Hoggle was usually not within hearing distance if he could help it. Jareth tried again to get purchase on the limb and climb out, but it swayed under his weight and threatened to break. He held very still.

It was at that moment that he heard high-pitched screams and squeals. He leaned up and froze again as the branch creaked. Jareth had managed to lean high enough that when he looked now, he could see Teak running for his life. It was Teak who was hollering at the top of his lungs while being pursued by a dark, hairy beast.

As the two drew closer, Jareth made out the Werewolf's form and knew it had to be Wolf, though why Wolf was chasing the tiny Goblin, he could not begin to fathom. After all, besides being one of his subjects and, therefore, off limits, Teak would barely be a snack for the ravenous stomach of the Werewolf. However, there normally was not any Werewolves in the Labyrinth, and so the Werewolf before him simply had to be Wolf. "WOLF!" Jareth yelled. "STOP CHASING TEAK! HE'S NOT YOUR NEXT MEAL! COME GIVE ME A HAND; YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE MY PARTNER!"

If Wolf had heard him, he paid not one bit of attention to Jareth but continued in his pursuit of Teak. Teak again squealed for he was in fear of his life and ran out onto the bridge, something that he never would have done under normal circumstances. He knew about that bridge! Only two could make it on that bridge -- Jareth and Didymus --, but he had to do something! He could feel Wolf's hot breath upon his very rear!

Wolf followed Teak out onto the bridge, but when the bridge began to shake, he paused. He continued to growl, however, and as soon as the bridge stopped moving, he shot forward after the terrified Goblin who was squealing at the top of his lungs for Jareth to save him. Wolf was closing in on Teak when the first ropes snapped . . .

Prue's & Jack & Will's Bedrooms

Prue rolled over in the bed. She was having trouble sleeping, and the frequent growls and yowls she could hear from the basement did not help things. The two males who had been going at it for quite some time had finally seemed to take a break, and she tried mightily to sleep but to no avail. There was something hard in the bed, and she was laying on it. She turned over again, trying to find it, her hand reaching, groping blindly in the dark. Whatever it was, it was big and heavy and not on the mattress, she realized, but under it. Was is it? she thought.

Getting off the bed and kneeling beside it, she ran her hand under the mattress. She finally came into contact with . . . "The Book?!" she almost shouted out loud. She began to pull it out from under the mattress. The Book has been returned! Thank the Goddess! she hugged it to her bosom.

With the return of the Book came a rush of hope and good feelings. This was their heritage, left to them by their grandmother and mother, and it meant the world to her that, at long last, she held it in her arms once again! They had to find somewhere safe to keep the Book. I must take it to Piper. No, Piper will be sleeping. I'll give it to her in the morning. She was about to return to the bed, taking the Book with her, when Piper and Cole appeared before her. "The Book!" Prue said with a smile and handed the Book toward her sister.

"You found it!" Piper exclaimed. She eagerly took the Book from Prue even while trying to figure out how to keep her older sister from realizing that something was going on.

"We have to find somewhere safe to hide it, but thank the Goddess it has been returned to us!" Prue looked at Cole. "Maybe you know of a safe place?"

"I don't know of one now, but we'll find somewhere safe."

Before Prue could ask any other questions as to why they had suddenly appeared in her room, Cole told her gently, "You should return to bed and to sleep."

"But . . . I haven't been asleep," Prue told them. "I just . . . keep thinking about poor Brendan down there. I wish I could be with him. I'm so tired, Piper," Prue told her sister from the bed. "Maybe you could make me something that would help me to sleep?"

"I'll see what I can do, sweetheart," Piper gently told her sister, "while Cole hides the Book, okay?" She reached out and brushed Prue's hair out of her face. There was no way in heck she wanted Prue to get the first clue as to what was really going on! "I'll be back soon, okay?"

"Okay. But hurry. I am so very tired." Her eyes were growing even heavier, but she fought to stay awake.

Piper nudged Cole.

Cole shimmered both of them back to the waiting group. Once they reappeared, Piper looked to Gabrielle for help. "Do you know of a herb that can safely put one to sleep?"

"Yes," Gabby started to answer but was interrupted by Rachel, who very carefully slid away from Spike, turning her back to Will and only her side to Spike, to look at the trio.

"Who do you want out?" Ray asked.

"My sister."

"Take me to her," Rachel said, stepping up to Cole. "I can help her out."

"Safely?" Piper eyed the redhead warily.

"Safely," Rachel agreed with a reassuring smile. She touched Piper's shoulder. "I promise I won't hurt her. All I'm going to do is to give her a mental suggestion to fall asleep."

"You're a tele . . . ?" Piper searched for the right word.

Ray nodded. "A telepath. Cole," she asked, looking up at the tall man and offering him her hand, "if you will?"

Cole shimmered them to Prue's room but did not make them visible. He waited while Rachel put Prue to sleep and then shimmered them back to the room. "Worked like a charm," he told Piper. "When she wakes up, she's going to be mad, but in the mean time, she's going to sleep."

"They're all going to be mad when they wake up," Piper told Cole, "but I don't want them coming." She looked at Rachel. "Thank you." The redhead nodded to her and turned her attention back to the mirror.

A Cavern

The voice sounded familiar, Kyna thought, but it could not be! It was impossible! The figure circled around again and came at her once more, snarling and hissing. Screams surrounded her, and Kyna realized that the other Vampires were diving back into their coffins. Only one ran at her, and she sidestepped the female and dodged the second attack, tumbling onto the floor and tucking her head in. She looked up as the mother embraced her son and pulled him down onto the floor with her. The mother pressed her son's head against her breast and looked at Kyna from across the cave.

Despite the darkness, Kyna could see the female's face plainly. It was filled with terror, and now she heard the boy's sobs. "SHUT THE BRAT UP," the Master Vampire roared out, "OR I'LL STAKE HIM MYSELF!"

Kyna's mouth opened in shock, something it very rarely did but that had now happened at least thrice within the last forty-eight hours. She did not know what she had just stumbled into, but clearly everything was not as it seemed. Staying flattened against the ground, she pulled her sword from its scabbard, thankful that it, too, had been returned, and a vial from one of the many inside pockets on her trench. She murmured a spell as she sprinkled the holy water onto her sword. Recapping the vial, she returned it to its hiding place and rolled over as she felt the Master coming in for another attack. She thrust her blade high but missed where its heart should have been. Her sword burned a hole into his chest, nonetheless, and he screamed in agony, his wings flapping. As he screamed, she withdrew her blade and caught a look at his face. "SHENG!" He passed over her and hit the ground hard.

A Forest

Leaves crunched underneath booted feet as the woman made her way slowly through the forest. She moved stealthily, her hands balled into fists and ready to ignite with flame and strike at the slightest provocation. The forest was too quiet, the trail too smooth, the trek too easy. Something wasn't right. She paused, and her emerald eyes swept the forest. For just one second, she could have sworn she was being watched, but she didn't see anything. With a shrug of her black-clad shoulders, she told herself that it must merely be the damn Council.

The damn Council that Xavier sat on . . . If she ever got her hands on that bald-headed geezer, he'd never live to make it to another trial! How could he have let her down? How could he have let him down? He had had the power to save him, and yet he had allowed him to die! The redhead growled. At one time, not too long ago at all, she would have done just about anything for Charles Xavier. Now, she ached to wrap her hands around his throat, squeeze the life out of him, and burn his flesh straight off. She wanted to see him dead, just like he had allowed her . . .

A sudden, low growl broke her thoughts off abruptly. She whirled around, muscles tensed for battle, but then relaxed when she saw an animal in her pathway. His coat was standing up, and his lips were pulled back to show his gleaming fangs. He was the one growling, but yet she did not fear him. "Hullo there," she greeted the animal, slowly lowering herself into a stooped position and reaching a hand out for him to sniff.

She did not flinch when the wolf snapped at her hand, merely pulled it just out of his reach. "Now that was nae very nice, 'twas it? I'm nae tryin' tae hurt ye, lad. I'd ne'er hurt ye."

His savage growl broke her off; her eyes widened. "What di ye mean ye want tae eat me? Come now. Ye din't mean that. I'm nae after ye nor yer pack. I'm nae wantin' tae -- "

An increased volume of growling broke her off again. Her emerald eyes flitted around the forest. Now she could see them, slinking out of the dark shadows, their fur raised and ruffled in warning, their teeth bared, their growling filling the quiet forest . . . "Honestly, ye lads an' lasses, can nae be that hungry now, can ye?"

"Ye wouldn't eat me. I knae -- " This time, she was interrupted by an even rougher growl as the wolf leapt for her. She jumped back, hit the ground, and rolled. The wolf caught the tail of her trench coat. He spit it out in disgust and prepared to jump again.

Kat O'Hara's emerald eyes scanned her surroundings in one quick glance. They were moving in on her from all sides! She couldn't believe that she was being attacked by animals, but that was exactly what was happening! She placed her hands onto the ground. Forgive me, Mother Earth, she thought as fire spread from her fingertips. It made a quick circle around her, shooting high as it circled and keeping the wolves at bay . . .

Kat got to her feet and stood within the circle of fire. This would, at least, keep the wolves at bay, but what was she going to do from here? She couldn't fight them for she couldn't hurt them. She wouldn't hurt them. She growled and spat a Gaelic curse. How dare the Council send animals after her! They knew she would never hurt an animal; they didn't even want to give her a fighting chance!

Will & Jack's Bedroom

"NO!!!!!!" Spike thundered, snarling savagely and only being kept from shattering the mirror by Rachel's quick telekinetic barrier. "THAT CAN'T BE!!!! THEY CAN'T DO THAT!!!!"

Xena's mouth fell open. "As I live and breathe!" she said. "Sheng?! How can that be?! Sheng was never a Vampire! He was Kyna's first husband, and he was taken out by Vampires. She made sure he would not come back, so how can this be?! You're the only Vampire Kyna's ever been interested in the way that she's interested in you!" She stared in amazement at the mirror, waiting to see what the next revelation would be.

Interested in? Interested in?! INTERESTED IN!?! Xena's words reverberated in Spike's mind, and his fists clenched and unclenched. He wanted to kill something! He needed to kill something, preferably every damn being that had ever sat upon the damn Council seats! "You know as much as I do," he snarled back at Xena. It was a lie, however, for Spike knew how Sheng had been killed. He had been there, and he knew that there was no way that the man had been turned. Drusilla had killed him, but she had not managed to turn him. He had seen to that, which was why Kyna had smelled him there that night . . . Tears filled his vision, and he fought against them as he kept his back to the others.

Rachel listened to what was happening and wondered what was happening to Kitty. If they would do this to Kyna, what might they do to Kitty? "Show me Kitty," she breathed, her voice shaking.

"NO!" Spike roared. "KEEP IT ON KYNA!"

"You've seen your woman. There's nothing you can do to help her. Now let us see what Captain Pryde has happening."

"And then show us Jack!" Will called, having also turned to watch the happenings.

"'Ro!" Wolverine demanded simultaneously.

Will glared at Wolverine. "Jack!"

To Will's surprise, the short man nodded his consent. "And then 'Ro," he growled.

"One at a time!" Phillip exclaimed. "One at a time!"

"Kitty first!" Lockheed commanded. "Or I burn ya!" He spit out a smoke ring that struck Phillip's mirror as warning.

Spike slipped off to the side of the room and slammed his fist into the wall with a low growl. He did not even bother to listen to Phillip but only waited for a chance to get back to Kyna. He needed a way to reach her. Angel was going to have to deal with Crystal's uncle by himself; he had to help Kyna before the Council's tricky treachery doomed his beloved's soul!

Somewhere

Ororo barely had time to realize that she had stopped falling at long last before four giant walls began closing in upon her. "NO!" she screeched, but as she tried to take flight, they folded in upon her. Then she felt teeth biting into her from all angles. She screamed, lightning bolts shooting from both hands.

Somewhere

Kitty's fall was cut short as she landed on something hard. The wild shriek of a big bird met her ears, but it was slightly different from a pterodactyl's. She felt herself starting to slip from whatever she had landed on and grabbed hold to -- she looked down in surprise -- feathers?! Her eyes travelled the length of the feathered body she was riding on only to be met with a pair of extremely angry eyes and a huge beak that was trying unsuccessfully to reach her. "H-Hi, birdie," she managed. This was the biggest damn bird she'd ever seen!

Maybe she could just jump off before it managed to reach her? Kitty thought. Looking down, Shadowcat swallowed. The ground was so far below that she could only make out the bleary tops of trees! If she tried jumping from way up here, there was no telling what she'd land into! Phasing was also out of the question for there was no way that she could hold her breath for as long as it would take to reach a safe landing spot!

The condor screeched again, its putrid breath blowing the hair back away from her face. Kitty looked up and tried again, "Nice birdie?" It was then that a new roaring sound met her ears. Both bird and woman looked behind them, and the condor's screech turned from anger to fear. Shadowcat gripped his feathers firmly as the bird took off, trying desperately to escape the jaws of a Tyrannosaurus Rex!

Somewhere

Jack found himself standing next to the edge of the water with ripples in the waves to the point to let him know that something was coming and heading directly his way. He drew his sword and waited, having no idea what was about to make its appearance and whether or not he would stand a chance against it. A lesser man would have run screaming from the edge of the water and taken his chances inland, but Jack, being a man of the sea, felt that he could face anything the sea could throw at him.

He stood his ground even as something began to raise its ugly head from the water and huge arms flashed into the sunlight and then splatted into the water again. "Holy Aphrodite! It's the damn Krakken! I love you, Will!" he cried to the air. Then he turned to look directly into the maw of the creature that had come for him. "Hello, beastie!" Lifting his sword skyward, he charged into the thing's mouth. He came down over the top of Jack, swallowing him whole.

Jack & Will's Bedroom

Will's scream split the air, rushed out into the hallway, and echoed throughout the house and beyond. He ran for the mirror, sword in hand, and crashed into it. He stumbled back, tried again, and again he collided with its hard surface. "Stop hitting me!" Phillip demanded. "I didn't do it! I didn't do it!"

Wolverine was on his knees beside the mirror for, as he had seen his son swallowed whole, he, too, had charged Phillip, his claws bared. "LET US IN THERE, YOU BLASTED, FUCK-HEADED SON-OF-A-BITCH!!!!!!! THAT'S MY SON, AN' I'VE GOT TA GET TA HIM! HE'LL DROWN INSIDE THAT THING IF IT DON'T EAT HIM FIRST!"

They watched with fear-stricken eyes as the creature returned to the sea and the scene changed . . .

Somewhere

The first thing Emma became aware of as she came around was that she felt like she was being pinned down. She felt some form of bindings on her wrists and legs. Her blue eyes flew open. She struggled to rise, but the bindings held fast, keeping her laying down, her arms stretched over her head and her legs flat out beneath her. She could not even move her own hands or feet. She looked around, and her heart nearly stopped at the familiar, white surroundings. There was nothing in the room at all except for whatever piece of hard wood she was tied to.

"WHO HAS DONE THIS?!" she demanded, continuing to fight against her binds but to no avail. Laughter met Emma's ears. As it came closer, she hid her cringe in a grimace and scowl. It was familiar. Too familiar.

The woman stepped into view, her hands on her hips, and looked down at Emma. "You're right where you belong, sister."

Will & Jack's Bedroom

"What're we lookin' at?" Wolverine demanded, seeing only a plant. "Where's 'Ro?!" He knew she was to be next.

"Listen!" Piper cried. "That's Auntie 'Ro's screams!" Tears shone in her eyes as she started toward the mirror. "Where is she, Phillip?" she nearly begged the question.

"I can not show you any closer to where she is."

"But where . . . SHITT!!!" Wolverine barked. Now his son and his woman were eaten!!!!

Piper realized what was happening at the same time that Wolverine did, and she cried out. "OH, GODDESS, NO!" She looked to Cole with tears beginning to stream down her face. "We have to find a way to help them!"

"But you can't," Gabrielle stated. "Guys, I know this is hard. They're our friends and family too. We want to help, but we can't. There's no way."

"We've got to do something!" Will cried, the North Pole completely forgotten.

"Yeah! We gotta go help Elvira!" Donkey protested. "We can help them!"

Connor looked at the mirror in fear. "Show me Dad," he requested, almost hating to see.

"Which one?"

"Either." He couldn't pick.

The mirror's image swirled again . . .

Somewhere

James was barely hanging on with his hook. His hand had completely missed the jutting log. His feet dangled helplessly high above a creek, and below him was the creek filled with crocodiles. There were so many they had climbed on top of each other and were trying to reach him! He screamed, but no one heard him.

"I DON'T WANT TO GO THIS WAY!" he cried to the sky. "SOME ONE UP THERE, HELP ME, PLEASE!!!! I DON'T WANT TO DIE THIS WAY!!! I WANT TO SEE MY SMEE, AND I WANT TO SEE MY BOYS AGAIN!!!! PLEASE, SOMEBODY, HELP ME!!!!"

But his pleas fell on deaf ears, and the crocs were beginning to get the hang of how to stack up on top of each other. They had been stacking and falling, getting up and trying a new formation each time, and the last formation seemed to be working. It would not take them very long to reach him, but there was no way he was going to let go! Maybe, just maybe, some one out there would help him?! He closed his eyes in desperation, imagining he could hear Smee . . . He did not want to see those crocs any closer, but he could hear their smacking and it sent chills up his spine and tears down his face . . .

Somewhere

Spears and staffs zipped past Smee's head, each one seemingly passing closer than the one before it had. Smee's panicked yells were swallowed up by the yelling of the tribe of people who chased after him. His whole body shook as he ran with everything he had in him. He was going as fast as he could, and yet he was still slow! They'd be upon him at any time now!

Up ahead, Smee could see an exit to the jungle looming. He ran faster for it, his heart pounding painfully in his chest and his breath coming in labored gasps. Sweat poured over his every roll, and his stomach queased as he ran for his life. He had to make it! He had to escape, somehow, for Vang's sake, for Zora's, for Connor's! The thought of his son crying over the loss of Vang and himself gave Smee renewed strength and speed, and he ran faster just as a fist had been about to strike him from behind.

Smee burst out of the jungle and into a small clearing. He ran on with his pursuers hot on his rear end until his big eyes took in the end of the ground. It seemed to fall off into nothing but empty air, but he could hear the thrashing of water below. As he neared it, another voice met his ears, and his heart leapt into his throat. James! James was down there somewhere, crying for help!

Smee knew he was probably the last being that his beloved James wanted to see, but he had to see if there was some way he could help him, anything he could do to save him . . . Coming to a stop at the jutting edge, Smee peered over and down. He saw James first, and his heart broke at the sight of the tears that rolled down his beloved's handsome face, the fear that had paled his face, and the severe quivering of his long mustache that seemed ready to pop off of his face at any second. "SMEE!!!!!!!!!!!!" James yelled, and Smee realized that he was not above allowing him to help him.

But what could he do?! Smee thought frantically as he looked at the screaming, running people that were even now throwing spears around him and, by some miracle he would have been grateful for just a couple of days ago, still missing him. He leaned out further, cringing as his foot sent pebbles scattering down the side of the cliff and hitting his poor James, and saw the crocodiles jumping around in the water below, jumping for his poor love . . .

A spear suddenly hit Smee in the shoulder, and he cried out at the pain. He tore it out of his shoulder, but as he did so, he lost his balance and fell . . .

Morph & Celina's Bedroom

As screams echoed through the house and countless pairs of hurried feet stormed past their door, Morph glanced at the direction chaos seemed to be breaking loose in. He had just been settling into the groove of things, not even changing yet but simply allowing himself to enjoy the rapid, hungry licks and nibbles that Celina had been giving his sword, when he had heard Will screaming, and now Hell seemed to be breaking lose outside. Propping up on his elbows, he sighed heavily. "Love," the cat he spoke to did not even look up from his groin, "looks like I'm going to have to go."

He reached down to pet her, but the Siamese cat who he knew to be his wife swiped at him. He pulled back his hand with a shout of "OUCH!" and looked at the blood that trickled over his palm. "Okay, maybe that wasn't the smartest idea . . . " His words broke off into a groan as her fangs again nipped at one of his testes.

Another pair of feet raced by his door, and Morph sighed. He had to at least try to help his friends. He started to back up, sliding his naked bum against the hard floor, but Celina sank her teeth into his left testicle. His yell thundered out of the room. He reached down to pull her off, but she hung on determinedly. Her fangs remained fixed in his testes as her sharp claws swiped at him, and she growled from around him. Despite the danger, the sensation of her growling mouth sent a new set of delighted chills sweeping through his prone body.

Finally releasing his wife only after his hands were torn and bloody all over, Morph sighed, hung his head, and shook his head. There was no way he was getting out of this room! Oh, well, he thought with a shrug, he couldn't help his friends, but surely after all they'd been through as of late, they could handle whatever was daring to attack them here in their own home! In the mean time, he might as well enjoy himself. A wry smile started to grow over his face as he began growing fur all over his body . . .

Will & Jack's Bedroom

Dawson was on his knees and was about to ask Phillip to show him Faith. After everything she had already gone through, what could the bastards have done to her this time?! Hadn't she already passed her test? Would they still be throwing more at her? His mouth opened to tell Phillip to show him Faith when Connor demanded to see James again.

Immediately, the picture cleared, and James was seen. Only this time he was not alone as Smee was dangling from his feet! James was struggling to get his good hand into something to hold them up but was still failing miserably and the crocs were piling even higher! "I've got to go there, Phillip! You've got to send me there!"

"I can not!"

At that moment, the hook began to let go. James screamed even as he sought to regain the purchase that he had lost. He couldn't lose! He couldn't fall, taking both he and Smee to their deaths! "HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!" he screamed. "HELP!!!!!!!!!!" But he was beginning to believe that all was lost. Maybe he could swing Smee to safety? His eyes went upward, and that's when he saw the painted, black faces looking down. "What the Hell is that, Smee?!"

"I-I-I-I-I-I-I th-th-th-th -- "

James' mustache quivered even more, though he would have thought it impossible. "Spit it out!"

"I think they wanna eat us!"

"So do they!" James said, looking downward. "And I don't want 'em to eat either of us! HEEEEEEEEEELP!!!!!!!!" he called again.

To Be Continued . . .