A/N Sorry for the late-ish update, I was otherwise disposed yesterday and so unable to post this. I have the next few chapters planned so it should be free sailing for the next few days. Thanks for all the follows and favourites and reviews (and the same for any of you who read my two one-shots).
Enjoy!
Chapter 6: Confusion
As the group of seven left the ship behind, Hook smiled ruefully. He wouldn't be seeing his ship for a long time and only hoped that when Hugo returned, he would be able to control the crew in Hook's absence. The group was made up of the four women, Hook, Hugo and Leigh. The two crewmen had volunteered to escort them to the Lake and then return to the ship.
Trekking through the forest, Emma remembered the pirate's promise of a bath. Catching up to him, she asked, "Where's the closest stream?"
Hook smirked, "Emma, if you are you that eager to take your clothes off, you really don't need the pretence of hygiene. Just admit that your desires are overwhelming you and you desperately need my expert touch."
She huffed and proceeded to brush past him before he quickly pulled the group to a stop and asked for silence. Off to their right they could vaguely hear the sound of water running down a stream and decided that they would stop off for a clean before continuing their journey.
Mary Margaret looked at Emma questioningly, "I thought you wanted to get back to Henry ASAP?"
"I do! But I also don't want him to give me a hug and die from exposure to intense body odour." Mary Margaret laughed and nodded in agreement. She didn't really want to get home to David, only to have him cough and splutter in the presence of such smell. There were other things she had in mind for their reunion.
Having been around the smell for days, the women had grown accustomed to it – especially with a crew of malodourous men surrounding them at all times. They did know, however, that they must reek.
"The stream is just past the tree line," Hook announced, pointing to where they had gone to scope out a slow moving water stream, "We'll split up and move into separate areas along the riverbank so there's no indecency. If anything happens, make some form of loud noise and, well, you know what to do from there."
As the group split so that they were all at least ten metres apart, Emma noted that the density of the trees made it impossible to see anything on either side save for the first three metres. As she stripped down and entered the cool water, she realised that the shape of the stream's side was zigzagged so as to provide a wall of trees on either side of her. It would have been terribly convenient if not for the fact that she could distinctly see through the trees to her right to where Hook was now swimming around. The trees there weren't as heavily populated.
Unable to tear her gaze away, Emma drifted over to the tree line where she rested her arms on the grass of the riverbank. Hook was lazily stroking through the water, his face serene and utterly beautiful.
As he turned to stroke back to shore, his eyes met Emma's and the satisfactory grin that transformed his face made her curse herself.
"You know it's impolite to stare? If I weren't so eager for your attention, I might feel scandalised." Hook waded over to the riverbank closest to Emma's and leaned against it in a way that mirrored her mannerisms. The blonde rolled her eyes and dropped into the water to wet her hair.
"I thought I heard something and I was checking it out," Emma said defensively, running a hand through her hair and thanking the Gods that the water reached her collarbones. Hook scrutinised her as she talked.
"You and I both know that's a lie, you're like an open book." His eyes glanced over Emma subtly and he admired inwardly the waterfall of golden hair running down over her shoulders. She huffed and turned around to paddle lightly through the water.
"You don't even know me."
Hook's smile brightened, she could see the white of his teeth even through the light bush and undergrowth that affected her view minutely.
"On the contrary, love. I think you and I are very much alike," he said, pushing off the riverbank to backstroke through the water. Emma returned to her earlier position and spoke loud enough for Hook to hear.
"I want to get out, can you turn around? I don't trust you not to look."
The lean muscles stopped stroking and his face contorted in a wounded expression. In his most mocking tone Hook said, "I am disdained that you think so little of me, Swan. I would never betray a lady's honour." Emma narrowed her eyes.
"Hook. Move away from the riverbank so I can get out, please."
Eyebrows raised, the pirate smiled and proceeded to move to the shore on his side. To Emma's horror, he exited the water and strutted elegantly to where his area was situated to get dressed. His back muscles rippled as he drew himself out of the stream and even though she felt scandalized, she couldn't deny that Hook had a nice ass. As soon as he was out of sight, she cursed silently and inched out of the water, getting dressed in record time.
Within minutes, the group met up again on the path they had previously been. Hook smiled knowingly at Emma who kept her eyes on the ground as the group continued its journey, smelling considerably better.
-
"What's that sound?" Leigh halted the group, as the person at the front of their formation he was in charge of direction but just now he could swear he heard footfalls to the left. Confused, the group held their breath and waited for the sound to come again.
"What's all this about, Leigh?" Hook asked from the back, he had been bringing up the rear alongside Hugo. Leigh shook his head for a moment and motioned for everyone to continue walking. Emma, who was walking behind Leigh, looked either side of them to validate their seclusion.
The burly man stopped again abruptly and Emma nearly ran into him. This time, however, she heard the noise that made him abruptly halt their walk.
"Over there. There's something over there," she said, voicing the thoughts that her and Leigh shared. The group turned to face that section of the forest, searching for any sign of movement. The sound was softer now but Emma could hear it and, judging by the tensing of the group, she assumed everyone else could.
Suddenly, a sword whizzed past their group and lodged in a tree, missing Mary Margaret's head by a fraction.
"You four, get behind us." Hook stepped forward with the other two men, drawing his sword in the process. Emma scoffed in unison with her mother and Mulan.
"You really think we're going to let you –" Mary Margaret began, but before she could finish her sentence a man came into view about two metres from them – sword raised. He appeared… dead. If it weren't for the fact his eyes were open and he was moving, Emma could have sworn he was decaying.
"He's from the sanctuary! Cora must have…" Mulan gasped in recognition, hand clasped over her mouth, as the man ran forward.
"No time to check, he has some friends," Hugo pointed his sword to where more men and women were emerging from behind the trees. They all appeared sallow and bloodied, decaying bodies that were moving surprisingly fast.
As the man reached them, Leigh took a swipe with his sword and decapitated the man before they were completely overrun with the dead puppets. Mary Margaret stood behind the group with Aurora – shooting as many as she could with her arrows. Emma, Mulan, Hook, Leigh and Hugo were all battling the living corpses, swords clashing and the occasional grunt.
Aurora's scream pierced the air as a grotesque arm grabbed her from behind. Before the mystery assailant could slit her throat, Mary Margaret lodged an arrow in his skull.
"They're on both sides!" she screamed, pulling Aurora away from the approaching masses. Hook and Emma turned at the same time, leaving Hugo, Leigh and Mulan to face the other onslaught. Within moments they were in what appeared to be a circle, Aurora seated safely in the middle as the group defended themselves.
"We need to get moving. Now!" Hook yelled, pushing Mary Margaret and Aurora forward. Emma turned, confused, to Hook.
"We can't just run, they'll follow us," she panted back, breathless from the exertion. Hook's eyes widened as they landed on Emma and he ran forward with his sword raised. Confused and unsure, the blonde braced herself until she saw his sword skilfully snake around her as his other arm pulled her body close to his. She heard his sword pierce the attacker that was obviously behind her.
"I'll stay back and distract them; I'll catch up with you all at the Lake." His arms were still around Emma and his ice blue eyes locked with hers before he spun her flagrantly around, pushing her forward. She started to run and trailed behind the group - they had immediately left following Hook's order. From behind her, Emma heard Hook grunt and stopped.
"Bloody hell woman, what are you doing?" Hook asked as she ran back, unbeknownst to Mary Margaret and the group. He was battling three men at once, and doing a hell of a job.
"You're not actually cocky enough to think you can take them all on, are you?" Emma said between grunts as she stood back to back with Hook, swiping and slicing at their offenders. He chuckled as they continued to take down their opponents.
"Good form, who taught you?" Hook asked between strokes.
"Some pirate with an affinity for guyliner," Emma retorted, trying not to smile as she took down another one of their attackers. Grabbing her arm, Hook swapped their positions and she responded to the change with ease. They worked well as a team.
Emma, although tired from the fighting, felt a small sense of pride at holding her own in this. It's only because Hook taught you how to fight, a small voice said in her head. Trying to ignore the fact that it was true - he had taught her to fight - Emma attacked the assailants with refreshed fervour.
As the last body hit the ground, Hook turned to the blonde – satisfaction beaming from his handsome face. Her lips turned up slightly and she turned to start running in the direction the others had gone. Before she could take a step, he grabbed her harm and pulled harshly. She was about to turn to ask what the hell he was playing at when she noticed a machete fly past where she had been standing.
Turning to the direction whence it had come, Emma saw one of the decaying monsters running at them – realising his sword had done no harm. Hook snarled and she ran forward with her sword, swiftly dispatching their foe. From behind her, she heard him step forward as he pulled her back onto the path by her hand. The pair ran quickly to catch up with the group, occasionally throwing glances over their shoulders. Emma nearly ran headlong into Mary Margaret, who appeared beyond worried.
"Emma! I turned around and you weren't there! What –"
"No time to explain, we need to get to the Lake – I think it's obvious who sent them," Emma interjected, motioning behind her.
"Cora… she killed all the people at the Sanctuary…" Aurora stuttered, tears welling in her eyes. Mulan grasped her shoulder comfortingly and Mary Margaret patted her on the back. All the while, Emma and the trio of men simply stood – mystified. Aurora hadn't even known the people at the Sanctuary; she had only just awoken from the sleeping curse and hadn't yet been to the refugee camp. Emma really wasn't the emotional type and this setting was unfamiliar, shifting her weight uncomfortably as she waited for them to finish. Hook looked to her and seemed to read her feelings.
"Sorry to interrupt, but we don't really possess a lot of time, can we crack on?" he said, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly with his hook. Aurora looked up, nodding as she wiped the tears from her cheeks. Emma nodded at Hook in silent thanks before moving ahead to lead the group with Leigh.
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