Hey, Butterflies! I'm back with Chapter 8 after my extended hiatus! I feel better now, and I was able to get a lot of writing done. Thank you all for being patient. I hope you all are enjoying the story so far! Tell me your thoughts in the reviews! Here's Chapter 8: Out Here.
Disclaimer: The Secret Saturdays belongs to Jay Stephens and Cartoon Network.
With only a few hours left on the clock, we are currently on our way to find Doyle. Thanks to Zak's powers and a technique Argost taught me years ago, we were able to locate him in the Arakan Mountains of Burma. How on Earth he ended up there, I'll never know, but right now, all that matters is that we get him back.
We get off the airship, and the first things I notice are the warmth and the dryness of the air; they are very different from things back in Seward. Then I notice the mountains around us, and I begin to wonder what kind of cryptids live here. I don't remember Argost ever having record of cryptids in this region. Maybe he just never knew about cryptids here.
A rustling in some nearby foliage startles me, but I don't show it; Zak would tease me forever if I did react. I look at where the rustling came from, and I am surprised to see a dog-like creature with short gray fur, a black muzzle, and rounded ears. Is that really a- no it can't be. They're not native to this area of Burma. Doc apparently sees the animal and is taken aback. He takes a closer look and pulls out his cryptidpedia. He searches the animal and ends up more confused than before. Great, even the super genius is confused; that can't be good.
The animal whistles, and Zak responds with, "I am." I never realized how great of an impact losing my Kur powers would have on my ability to understand other cryptids. It pains me, for I was connected to these magnificent creatures in a way that only one other human can understand, but I had it up to revive that one human. It feels like part of who I am has been removed and attached to someone else. It left a hollowness when I gave my powers to Zak, and that hollowness has not gone away. It is a constant reminder that the one thing that ever made me useful is now gone and in the hands of another. It makes grieving the loss and moving on impossible, for I cannot separate myself from the hollowness. It is a unrelenting reminder that I am forced to live with every day. I pull myself together and observe intently Zak's conversation with the cryptid.
"This is Nyein," Zak explains to us. "He is a Gray Dhole from the Pidaung Game Sanctuary." Doc has a shocked look on his face; he says that that is quite a ways from here. Then Zak translates, and the cryptid nods. Next, the cryptid makes more whistling noises as Zak listens intently. The two continue their conversation for a while, with Zak giving a few translations here and there. I watch the hours melt away as this conversation drags on and on. Finally, Zak and Nyein stop conversing, and Zak explains that Nyein is going to take us to Doyle. We all follow Zak and Nyein through the surrounding foliage.
We walk for what seems like several hours, but according to my watch, it has only been ten minutes. Komodo stays close to me and comforts me as we walk. I think he is beginning to understand what is happening to me. Stars, I wish I could stop this. This is going to hurt the both of us more than either of us can bear. We have been through a lot these past several months, and we have bonded so well. What will happen once we can no longer understand each other? J'ai peur. I'm scared. All my life, I have had a power than connected me to cryptids, and when I finally have one cryptid I truly feel connected and attached to, I no longer have the power to keep us together, How our connection has lasted this long, I don't know, but I have no idea what will happen once it's gone, nor do I have any idea how to save it.
Nyein and Zak stop, causing panic to fill my body. I tense up and mentally go into defense mode. They look around before Nyein sniffs the ground and continues to lead us onward. The panic passes, and I follow the group. Every so often, something rustles in the plants, but I try to ignore it. If the need arises, I'll use my powers, but that's a last resort.
Finally, after what feels like forever of walking, we stop again. Nyein whistles to Zak, and Zak translates that this is where Nyein last saw Doyle, or at least someone who looked like Doyle. As a group, we decide to linger and observe just in case the person returns to this place. I then glance at my watch and almost cry. We have two hours left. If this person isn't Doyle, things are not going to turn out well for anyone.
I have stepped away to relieve myself when I hear the sounds of an altercation where Nyein led us. I finish up, sanitize my hands (I'm not crazy enough to go out hiking into the mountains without something to wash my hands with), and hurry over to where the noises came from. I was right, there is an altercation, and it looks as if everyone is involved. I rush in and try to solve the conflict, but I'm struck by something in the process. It cuts me, and I feel the blood flowing. Quickly, I put my hand over the area and heal it; I'm surprised I still could do it, for I haven't done any healing for months now. Then I'm back in the conflict, but pretty soon things are resolved. It was Doyle, and Zak's the idiot who jumped on him from the tree. That resulted the altercation. Any how, we found Doyle, and we have three minutes left on the clock, so we're all good. Then I notice Nyein is injured, but he growls ferociously when I approach him. I call Zak over, and Zak tells him what I'm going to do. I lay my hand on the wound and heal it. Nyein thanks me before saying he has to leave. He is gone before Doc can object; we now have no way of knowing how to get back to the airship, for the Doc's remote has no signal out here. Zak then suggests that Zon fly up and find the airship, then guide us back. We all agree to the plan, well except for Doyle, but we really don't have much of a choice. Zon flies up and is up for a while. Then she comes back down and shakes her head; she can't see anything. It's hopeless. We're lost, and it's getting dark.
Doyle offers to let us spend the night as his place. We gladly accept, and we follow him to where he has been staying. The place is not much, but it seems to have worked for Doyle for the past little bit. As we look around, Doyle explains that he's been moving around a lot. Part of me suspects that he is trying to run from the grief of losing his sister again, but I keep that to myself. I don't want to make this more awkward than it has to be. Soon, we are all settled for the night in various places around the campsite. I find my sleeping place for the night and lie down. Komodo joins me, and we fall asleep.
A chilling, damp breeze stirs me from my sleep. I thought it was the dry season and that the temperatures aren't this low. Oh well. I get up, careful not to disturb Komodo, and look around me. There is no one else awake. I stand walking around a bit, making sure to leave a way for me get back. I have no idea why I am walking away from the campsite, but I feel almost compelled to do it. The waxing crescent moon lights up the sky as I fumble my way through the trees. Finally, I stop and look around. There, lodged between two sticks, is a note flapping in the breeze. I pick it up and attempt to read the name. I have to squint, but I can just barely make out the same handwriting as the other two letters I have received. But how did Anonymous know to find me out here?
So that's the end of Chapter 8! I hope you all enjoyed it, and I'll have Chapter 9 up soon! Thank you all so much for reading! Don't forget to follow, favorite, and review!