Writer-Rabbit-Newsie-Grace: This was so good! Perfect mix of *ahem* seriosity and humor. Thorn would forget Nia, I'm sure. Marley was portrayed here very well here, she sounded fierce and motherly at the same time. I'm sorry I had to use seriosity. I've seen Newsies five times and counting, and I quote every chance I get! xD
RainyDayReading342: Lol, no worries! You can find me quoting things from movies and books just like Oskar does. Also thank you for reading!
ElvenQueenLibrary: Thanks for the reviews review!
We hope you enjoy this chapter!
-X-
Itzel felt herself being jostled. She noticed that the blindfold was gone, and searing pain cut into her eyes as light flashed before her. She had just woken.
A blob of dried slob curled down her chin. Her mouth tasted like dirty socks, and her eyes were swollen with sleepiness. Her hair was a tangled mess. The sedatives had affected her more than she thought.
She realized she was in the arms of the same Fang from earlier. She tried and failed to twist around to try and see Arthie. The Fang yanked her back.
"No movin'," the Green Fang growled.
But Itzel caught a glimpse of her older search brother Arthedor being marched off the ship.
His hands were tied behind his back. He was stumbling along as a Grey Fang poked him forward with the but of a spear. His hair was equally messy, and the heavy stench of sedatives radiated off of him.
Itzel felt helpless. She wanted to go home so badly.
She squeezed her eyes shut and tried not to whimper.
After a while of walking, A shadow suddenly fell across her eyes, a relief after the blinding light from outside.
The air grew moist, and Itzel dared to open her eyes to see they were in a cave.
The Fang roughly set her down on the side of the rocky wall.
She tried opening her eyes a little to see Arthie being set down beside her.
The Green Fang mumbled something to the Grey Fang, and then walked off deeper into the cave.
The Grey Fang took off Arthie's bonds, then he took chains from the wall and chained both Arthedor and Itzel's wrists.
They were prisoners.
Then the Grey Fang plopped down on the sandy floor to watch them.
Itzel suddenly realized how empty her stomach was. The last meal she could remember was dinner last night.
It was well after noon now.
Arthie eyed the Fang fearfully before slightly scooching a little closer to Itzel.
The Grey Fang saw this and chuckled.
"I don't care what you do as long as you don't try to escape or do something stupid."
Arthie got next to his sister and she put her head on his shoulder.
"Where is Liam?" she croaked, her voice low.
Arthie shook his head. "I don't know," he sighed quietly.
They rested against each other, drawing little comfort from each other as the salty breeze brushed their hair out of their eyes.
Not long after, the Green Fang returned. Its tongue flitted out between its slimy jaws.
"The Stone Keepersss are ready," Nab hissed lazily.
The Grey Fang hoisted itself up from the sandy ground and stretched.
"Alright, I'll chain them and lead them into the cove," it yawned.
Itzel was faintly aware of rough, scaly hands grabbing the shackles on her arms and thrust a key into the keyhole to unlock them with a click.
Itzel felt her so arms relax, and the chains fell to the ground.
Oh, where are they taking us now? she thought drowsily. Something in the air made her sleepy again. Maybe the salty breeze from the beach outside the cave was pleasantly affecting them.
Even the Fangs seemed relaxed.
Arthie yawned as Itzel saw the same shackles being unlocked from her big search brother's hands.
The Fangs led them deeper into the cave. The children stumbled along, half asleep.
Maker, please let Liam come rescue us. I can't bear it to be with these mean Fangs. And please protect us from the Rock Seekers, or whoever they are, Itzel prayed silently.
Soon, the light from the entrance of the cave dimmed as they walked further, and the Grey Fang picked up a hidden torch from the walls and ignited it by striking it against the cave walls.
Soon, they reached a huge cavern with a massive lake. Now, the light had vanished and they were far from the mouth of the cave.
There were wooden barrack houses carved into the high stone walls, and other Fangs and Strangers walked about. Some where fishing, others were arm wrestling on a wooden table while other Fangs chanted, and some were even training for fighting.
Arthedor sucked in a breath. Fangs weren't supposed to exist, especially an entire colony of them.
Neb laughed.
"You see, while your idiot parents were sitting on their big fat thrones thinking they had won, that they had rid evil of this world, they overlooked that the two Stone Keepers Murgah and Amrah slipped away into the Dark Sea of Darkness. They thought they would die soon. They underestimates them. Murgah and Amrah cane to this cave, and gathered the remaining Fangs and Strangers who were interested in seeking revenge for Gnag."
Itzel shivered. There was a rebellion of Fangs still alive?
The Grey Fang grabbed their wrist a and led them roughly into a small wooden door that opened from the cave wall into a large, dark cove.
The Fangs dipped a low bow.
"Murgah, your majesssssty, the children have been captured," Neb said.
Itzel could hardly see in the dark cove.
Then a rasping, chocking voice called,
"Thank you, my children. Amrah and I are so very pleased-" A fit of hacking coughs cut her off midsentence- "You may go and leave us with these...children."
Both Fangs slinked out the door with nods.
Itzel whimpered when they were shut in the darkness with the creepy voice.
Arthie moved protectively near his little sister.
Itzel latched on to his arm when the voice started to talk again.
"Hello, little ones. I am Murgah, one of the Stone Keeper's. The other one is Amrah, my daughter."
A figure crept out from behind a large stone column.
The creature snapped her fingers, and torches illuminated the room.
Arthie gasped in fear, and Itzel screamed.
It was a horrid cloven. Gills lined its neck and arms. Small fish fins dotted its face and neck.
Hairy spider legs protruded from underneath its dirty cloak. Sharp teeth stuck out from a mouth of cracked, dry lips.
One of its eyes was bright amber with a sliver of a black pupil, and the other was a deep violet with a square, orange pupil.
Its hair was like a briar, sticking out in many directions, tangled as if it hadn't been brushed in many years. Which, was probably true.
A scaly tail stuck out from its bottom. Whiskers dotted its forehead and cheeks. It limped forward, struggling to walk. Behind all of the morbid ugliness, A woman's face could be seen.
Its lips curled into a crooked smile. It almost looked like a grimace.
"You know, when me and my daughter came here, we gathered Fangs who were keen on gaining revenge for Gnag. And a couple of Stranders who were looking for trouble. We built our small army over time.
And all the time, we still had the stone. You see, your parents were so overconfident and full of themselves, they underestimated us. They thought we would drown or be eaten, the stone lost forever. But we made it. We survived," Murgah rasped.
She crept closer toward them, and the children both noticed scars on her face and arms.
"Well, me and Amrah want to continue what Gnag started. Melding with dragons. What a wonderful, exotic idea. We would be unstoppable! And out ugly forms would be fixed. But, there were no dragons that would be willing to meld with us. Now that the War was over and word had spread that Gnag was dead, no dragon would ever come to us to meld. It was a ridiculous idea!
But we had a plan. We were successful enough to be able to steal a baby dragon egg recently! How wonderful is that, children? Now, we wanted it to hatch full of hate. Full of anger. Full of the song of the ancient stones.
And that, children, is where you step in. The Wingfeather Royal Family always did have a special connection to communicate with dragons. We want you to transmit your thoughts to the unborn egg. Horrible thoughts. So it shall be born with hate. And after your done, if you cooperate, you can return home."
Murgah finished her speech with a cackle.
Itzel and Arthie clung to each other.
"But what if we don't want to?" Arthie demanded, his voice trembling slightly.
Murgah's hideous face twisted into a frown.
"Then it would appear you'd stay here forever."
And CUT ! -- see u next time...