Chapter 38- Horrifying discoveries part 2, help sent and rescue establishment
Malachite and company soon reached the top of the chain on a ledge and Kovu and his Slugcat group soon led them in the direction of the floating vessel rocking gently near the place from which Malachite and company emerged. Linking that vessel to the place was some sort of ramp and it was connecting to two. Malachite and company saw the ramp as they continued to head in that direction. As they moved on, Rainbow Quartz hovered nearby and gazed at the other group members. To her concern, she noticed that a few individuals were missing from the group.
"Wait, where are Cubozoa, Kenai and that Gannetwhale named Misty?" the metallic rainbow-winged Pegasus asked. Laminin with Scoville perched on her shoulder, gazed at her.
"Rei has sent them on a VERY important mission alongside some other Aquatic creatures able to walk on land as well as swim," the Skvader replied, "But that's not important. We MUST continue and we don't have time for chitchat."
Rainbow Quartz felt alarm tore through her and she began to worry for the young Ichthyo-Centaur, Tizheruk, the Gannetwhale Misty and the other aquatic members who had apparently left the group. But the fact that the members that had been sent away by Rei were aquatic creatures and not strictly land or just flying implied to Rainbow Quartz one thing, especially based on Laminin's description of their being sent on a 'very important mission'. That question left partially answered, the frustrated Pegasus moved on and flapped towards the vessel and the ramp.
As soon as the group arrived at the vessel and the ramp, they saw an unnerving sight. Malachite and company's mouths dropped open in consternation, especially at what had emerged from the vessel and onto the ramp. Once on the ramp, they walked single file towards the place.
"Are those figures what I think they are?" Sisu asked in a low voice. She then identified the vessel from which the figures emerged and onto the ramp. Nanachi the Viscacha came in, a serious look on her face.
"Yes, Blue Kirin, that's a boat and emerging from it are more visitors to this place," the Moon/Regular Viscacha hybrid said. Sisu shot her a disbelieving look but then she was forced to put that aside and continue. The group continued to advance towards the row of figures, 'visitors', as they continued walking single file up the ramp from the vessel, a boat. Waves splashed at the boat and made it rock but the place on which Malachite company were on rocked with the waves as well. As they got closer, Malachite and company realised that the ramp led into the place, a gaping mouth clearly visible now. Shock tore through them.
"That must be the entrance to whatever this place is," Lymphocyte blurted out in a whisper.
"Of course it is, Terror Bird," Akari's voice grumbled under her breath.
"Huh?" Lymphocyte asked as he partially picked this up. Akari spluttered as if she regretted what she had said but then the twin sister of Rei gazed at the flightless Bird of Prey sternly.
"Listen carefully," Akari said, "Once we get there, we need to climb up the head of this place to its top before that procession finishes and this place dives back under the waves..."
As she spoke, Rainbow Quartz noticed something sailing towards the place, the glistening azure carpet now identified as water, obvious by the waves of it splashing against the place and the boat which unloaded 'visitors' to the former via the ramp.
"Guys, look, I think I can see another boat heading this way but it's smaller, sort of like one of those scout boats sent from the main sailing boat," the rainbow-winged Pegasus called. Malachite, Elsa, Seishan, Yardang, Lymphocyte, Sisu and some of the others came over to the hovering Pegasus and followed her gaze in a certain direction. Rei and Akari rolled their eyes in UTTER irritation and joined the group. As they gazed at the new water vessel as it glided over the water towards the currently unknown place to Malachite and company, the contents in the smaller boat, which indeed resembled the boat described by Rainbow Quartz, became more visible but from this vantage point, it was difficult. Then Malachite had an idea.
"Rainbow Quartz, can you carry mounts on your back in flight? And if so, how many?" she asked the rainbow-winged Pegasus Mare.
"I can, but I've only ever done that once, and that was a young Faun Kid of one of Mrs Guinan's brothers whom I took for a short flight," said Rainbow Quartz. Malachite then called her over and before Rei and Akari or the others could ask what she was going to do; Malachite had hopped from the surface and onto Rainbow Quartz's back. Disapproval rolled through the rest of Malachite's gang.
"You know FULL WELL that it is dishonourable to ride a Pegasus, even a young one, cous," grumbled Seishan, "They're one of the noble creatures, you know."
"Mrs Milky Way will NOT approve of you riding her granddaughter's back," put in Elsa.
"Leave her alone, you two," snapped Rainbow Quartz as Malachite adjusted her position on her back, "we're only going there to get a closer look at that boat. Now, we'll be right back."
"Come back here, you two," called Rei angrily, "You'll get spotted!"
Some of the others also uttered protests and soon, Akari sent Tulio the Spix macaw and a young Peregrine Falcon to fly after the metallic rainbow-winged Pegasus and the green tiger-striped Nekomata.
Rainbow Quartz flew for a short distance towards the incoming boat with Malachite on her back and hid behind another chain and what appeared to be a platform to the Pegasus' relief and she landed there. Then the pair peered out and examined the boat's contents, which were boatmen. The boat sailed towards the place beneath Rainbow Quartz and Malachite and they peered through the platform which was holed like certain types of cheese, allowing them visibility of the boatmen from directly above them. However, as they began to examine the boatmen, Malachite felt her stomach lurch and Rainbow Quartz felt her body begin to tremble violently. In the boat were brightly coloured and cute creatures, similar to the Woodland Candy Creatures Rainbow Quartz and Malachite had seen with the others during their travels throughout this place but with these Creatures were three cat-like Creatures and they had black heads, paws and tails and a yellow pitted body and two blue furry creatures with long arms and legs, thick red lips and menacing, saucepan-like eyes. With these creatures were brown lumps but Malachite and Rainbow Quartz thought they had seen a few flashes of other colour in the boat as well. As the pair continued to watch, they saw the boat dock with some kind of port directly below them. Then one of the blue furry creatures which Rainbow Quartz identified as a male Squeezer, a creature that kills by fatally hugging its foes to her chills, stood up and began to interact with someone at some sort of door. Rainbow Quartz tried to get a glimpse of the creature but only managed to pick out a pair of furry yellow feet and lower legs, the rest of the body obscured by a protrusion from the metallic shell. Suddenly, one of the black and yellow pitted cats looked up in their direction but in a split second, Malachite felt her shoulders get seized by a pair of talons and a blue blur rushed in and tackled into Rainbow Quartz to get her into flight. Tulio and the young Peregrine Falcon had come to fetch the two back to Rei and Akari's groups. As Malachite was hauled back to the others by the Peregrine Falcon, a HUGE wave came crashing onto her. A memory of a description of some fuzzy memory of being in some sort of container floating in some 'sparkling azure fluid' from Kosmochlor, Sisu's green and black cousin during a conversation with him flashed within her mind and the green striped Nekomata began to shake violently.
Within moments, Rainbow Quartz was returned to the other flying creatures and Malachite was placed back with her group by the Falcon and he and Tulio both received a thanks from Rei and Akari before the two Red Pandas began to reprimand the pair for going off and almost giving their position away.
"Dolores and her cronies are looking for us, remember," hissed the male Red Panda in rebuke.
"What did you manage to see, you two?" asked Yardang with Elsa, Seishan, Lymphocyte and Sisu looking on, their faces nonverbally asking the same question. Malachite slowly turned and eyed her two cousins, adopted Cheetah cousin, the Terror Bird and the blue Kiriness with a look of UTMOST dread. Finally, she spoke; realisation having dawned upon her, but it was NOT a good one.
"I think it makes sense now," she whispered, "Guys, you remember being on that beach back at the Mainland while our elders were trying to fight to get us back?"
Nods rolled throughout the other five. Then Rainbow Quartz flew in to explain. As she did that, the Eclectus Parrot youngsters left to examine the boat and its contents that she and Malachite had examined properly.
"Well, I believe we have been handed to a group of boatmen by our kidnappers, some of Jadis' surviving cronies, and then taken out here to this place but we had been knocked out during the trip," the rainbow-coloured Pegasus Mare explained, "and then we were brought into that seemingly innocent room where we had our basic needs like food, water and area to sleep provided for us. Those Lanky Limbed Teddies told us that we had been rescued and will be returned to the Mainland in some time..."
As the Mare said this, Rei nodded to Sofanthiel to explain the truth to Malachite and company, ALL of it, so the Yellow Rappy did. The look on the Flightless Antanna Bird was severe.
"They may have told us that we had been rescued from our kidnappers and brought here for our safety," he said, before his voice turned dark, "but we really haven't."
Malachite opened her mouth to ask a question but the Rappy continued the explanation.
"We had NOT been rescued from the White Witch's surviving cronies and brought here under the promise of returning to our families and friends back in our areas such as the Mainland or the Sea. We had been brought here for use as either food or slaves. Some of us are taken straight to the kitchen areas to be turned into food for those 'visitors' and the runners of this place but the rest of us are taken to the game station and put through three stringent tests disguised as innocent games to see if we would fit the roles they have for us here. If we fail any of those tests, we are 'scrapped' and either sent to the kitchen as food items or sent elsewhere around this place to be slaves in areas I won't mention, while those who pass the tests are sent to a luxurious place and assigned roles."
The WORST wave of PURE, unadulterated HORROR Malachite and company had EVER felt tore through them when they heard this.
"Are you meaning to say that our 'carers' are ALLIED with JADIS' MINIONS!?" Lymphocyte blurted out. Then Kovu the Slugcat came in.
"Yes," said he without hesitation, "That is why we have been trying to get out and escape this place and seek rescue help to save the other children and victims trapped here."
"We have already sent Cubozoa, Misty, Kenai and the other Aquatic Creatures off into the sea to seek help from any Water Inhabitants that may be nearby and FAST," explained Rei reluctantly, "But we will be sending a Flying group to seek help from any flying creatures or any inhabitants on any nearby islands..."
"B-b-but why didn't you tell us this SOONER!?" demanded Seishan.
"And what is this place?" asked Elsa. The male Red Panda ringleader was about to reply when the Eclectus Parrots returned. They brought back a report of their observation of the smaller boat which had been more proper than Malachite and Rainbow Quartz's.
"The cargo being handed to that Yellow Lanky Teddy Bear by the boatmen led by one of the male Squeezers are definitely more kidnapped victims, Rei and Akari," said a green male, "Many of them are being held in sacks and all of them appear to be unconscious."
Then a red, blue and purple female came forward, a serious look on her face. "However, among the new victims appears to be an adult Horse-like Creature with Bat-like wings."
That sent alarm bells into overdrive within a few of the creatures, especially a certain young Kangaroo Doe.
"That sounds like a Longma," said she, Arezu, "We have a group of them that are mostly carers, teachers and harvesters in Mrs Dionaea's village near my Kangaroo clan and our co-inhabitants. Sometimes they come to our clan to teach us young members, such as Miss Chloroplast who teaches largely on Narnia's history and the creatures of Narnia. What colour and gender was that Longma?"
"We didn't see the adult Creature properly but it seemed to have had green scales, a light green tail and orange wing membranes on the underside," explained the lead male Eclectus. Arezu's mouth dropped WIDE open as recognition of these features took hold and she began to tremble violently. There was only one adult Longma she knew had these traits.
"MISS CHLOROPLAST!" the Kangaroo Doe cried hysterically and she began to weep. Confusion rolled through Rei and Akari's group and many of them exchanged glances and raising eyebrows.
"Oh, someone you know?" asked Akari, a concerned look on her face, the first one she had had in a while for throughout this escape journey, her and Rei's faces had been laced with sternness and a garrulous scowl. Arezu turned to the fraternal twin Red Pandas, tears running down her cheeks.
"Miss Chloroplast was one of our main teachers of Narnia's history and its creatures," the Kangaroo Panda explained, "She had also been one of Mrs Dionaea the Manticore and her family's friends and a friend of my uncle Laventon who is the patriarch of our Kangaroo clan."
"She's gonna be in MORTAL danger now that she had been brought here," said Sisu, "We MUST rescue her and the other victims kidnapped with her before those cronies of Dolores decide to do ANYTHING heinous to them or worse."
"Okay," said Akari, "We're gonna turn this journey into a rescue now that we have an adult member of a noble species brought here, and we're gonna re-enter this place via that entrance but we MUST still keep our presence hidden as much as we can from those monster assistants of Dolores as they will be lucking for us," turning to some of the flying creatures including Tulio, the Eclectus Parrots, and the Peregrine Falcons, he commanded, "You lot fly away from here and seek help from ANY passing flying creature, be it a Talking Seabird or whatever and make it FAST."
"Got it, Akari," said Tulio and with that, the group of birds took off into a high-speed flight. Eleven the Windrunner flew after them as did an Ahool, a Peryton and Rainbow Quartz.
"I'm going with you too," the rainbow-winged Pegasus called.
"Rainbow Quartz, WAIT," called Malachite but Rei stopped her. Rainbow Quartz had already flown out of earshot to hear Malachite's call.
"Leave your Pegasus friend to help Eleven's scout group, Tiger Stripes," commanded she. Malachite gazed on after Rainbow Quartz's form as it began to shrink, her metallic coloured wings glinting in the sunlight as the Pegasus followed the Birds, the Ahool and the Peryton on their quest to find Flying help. Laminin went to follow but Rei seized her by the back leg and pulled her back. Laminin's pet Spitfire Bird Scoville also returned.
"No, Laminin, you stay right with us," said the male Red Panda, "Your pet Spitfire Bird and his hot liquid-spraying ability will be helpful in case we land in DIRE situations in this rescue. Make sure you have your satchel with the Spitfire Flower juices, the sources of his weapon, ready."
Laminin reluctantly obeyed and gazed after the flying group as they receded into the distance. Then the Skvader and her pet moved on with the others for the entrance. Malachite, Elsa, Seishan, Yardang, Lymphocyte and Sisu look on after Rainbow Quartz worriedly as she continued to recede from them before they also moved on. They had hoped that Rainbow Quartz and the others with her would not run into trouble while finding help from any Flying creature or perhaps even a Sea Creature like a Talking Whale who often surface to take a breath.
The rest of Rei and Akari's group including Malachite and the remaining five with her hurried towards the entrance of the place which Rei and Akari and the others ABSOLUTELY refuse to disclose to Malachite and her little group, but that was not important now. What's more important was rescuing the new arrivals, among them the adult Longma identified as Chloroplast, from the clutches of Dolores' minions before they land in grave danger. The group soon came to a bar, another narrow one such that they had to run along it single file like the ceiling bars in the kitchen and the guest area, which they did. As the group crept along towards the entrance of the place, Malachite, Seishan and Elsa gazed at the procession of new 'visitors' as they walked up the ramp from the large boat to take in a better observation of them. Many of these 'visitors' were Humanoids, such as Dwarfs, Gnomes or other unidentified species and the three Nekomata thought they saw a few Humans in the mix as well (to their disturbance). Many of them appeared to be dressed in brightly coloured, expensive-looking clothes and jewellery similar to those worn by people of the higher wealth classes such as the monarchs. In fact there appeared to be several monarchs present in the procession based on their headwear which glinted in the sun like the surface of the place. Thankfully, none of these kings or queens were Queen Susan or King Edmund from Cair Paravel to Malachite and company's relief.
"Are those visitors aware of the sinister goings on of this place, Rei?" Malachite asked. Rei did not answer and continued running along ahead in front of the green striped Nekomata. Miffed once again, Malachite continued, but she and the others with her wondered why these people would come here. Then within moments, Malachite and company were inside the place again. The group continued running along, single file, into the entrance of the place. As they climbed up some meshes, they got a better view of the guests. They were being guided by some Candy Woodland Creatures to the visitor area and to the unease of Malachite, Elsa, Seishan, Yardang, Lymphocyte and Sisu; the faces of all of the visitors regardless of their species were blank as though zoned out.Then pulling their gazes from the passing 'visitors' the group continued, trying to find where the newcomers such as Chloroplast were being loaded. Suddenly, Rei stopped the group.
"Get down," the male Red Panda hissed and the group ducked behind a small wall. Yardang remained standing until a Slugcat paw reached up, seized him by the ear and pulled him down from behind the short wall. Then Rei and Akari looked out and upward. Malachite, Yardang and Sisu did the same and followed the Red Pandas' gazes. Behind them, Roux the Oran Pandek ushered in the next group members. Up on a balcony was a figure. That figure, cloaked in shadow except for a sheen from a light source behind it, highlighting its pink skin, was shaped like a giant spider with eight legs emanating from a torso, another blob, the head at the front. A pair of azure-coloured eyes glittered on the head, shining out of the shadow cloaking the head and gazing at the visitors as they entered the dining area.
"That's Dolores and she's overlooking the entry of those visitors," whispered Rei.
"Her eyes look gleeful," whispered Yardang as he examined the creature, Dolores' eyes.
"Yes, but not in a good way," whispered Akari. Suddenly, a Rabbit-shaped creature appeared on the balcony and began to talk to Dolores. However, the conversation was too distant from Rei and Akari's group to hear and it was too unsafe to try and get a closer listen in anyway. Certainly NOT with that spider and her cronies hot on their tail for escaping. Then pulling their gazes from Dolores and a Lemon Rabbit, one of the cute-but-wicked Candy Woodland Creatures, the group moved on in the direction of the dining area, and where the newcomers were being loaded.
As the front of the group progressed to the dining area, the sounds of eating and munching filled their ears.
"Careful now," whispered Rei as they prepared to pass through the dining area once again, this time in front of the visitors. As Rei and Akari, together with Roux and Kovu and the Cassowary, Friede, planned the next move, the rush for a stack of boxes and tables, Malachite and company took the opportunity to take in the visitors at the tables. They realised they were eating some food, but not in a way they had hoped. Sisu and Lymphocyte gazed at some of the Gnome 'visitors', all of them dressed in expensive clothing, as they ate at one of the tables. Instead of eating politely, they were shoving the food in front of them down their throats like gannets. Before them, a red Lanky Limbed Teddy Bear placed some more slabs of brown stuff, apparently meat, onto the table.
"UUUUGGGH!" escaped from both Sisu and Lymphocyte's mouth and beak as revulsion at the way those Gnomes were eating coursed through them. Roux looked on with no reaction.
"That's what those 'guests' here do, you two," the Oran Pandek said blankly, "There are no dining rules here, such as on how to eat or on manners..."
"We have NEVER seen Gnomes eat like that," grunted Lymphocyte in disgust. Sisu's face contorted as she watched one of the Gnomes take an entire slab of meat and then shove it all in one piece into its mouth. Not wanting to watch this dumb animalistic way of eating any longer, the Kiriness and the Terror Bird looked away. Then Yardang saw some of the visitors get guided by some mini Spider-Trains to what appeared to be an elevator or lift.
"Where are those visitors going?" asked the Cheetah. Laminin and Scoville came in, Scoville sipping on some strange liquid from a bottle held in his owner's paw.
"To places of unmentionable activities," said the Skvader, "Now return your focus on the rescue. Rei has just sent Carnelian, an Eclectus Parrot who has decided to stay with us, to locate where the newcomers are being unloaded."
Yardang did so and prepared to rush across the room to the boxes and tables. Moments later, Carnelian, a female Eclectus Parrot based on her red, purple and blue plumage, returned.
"They're just entering this room near the farthest wall and are about to carry the kidnapped new arrivals to some rise-and-fall box (elevator)," said she.
"Right, thanks, Carnelian, lead us there," said Rei and with that, the group got prepared to make the first move, Rei, Akari and their helpers' glares on the red Lanky Teddy as it continued to serve more meat to the gluttonous guests who ate it like animals. Then once the green light showed as the Teddy moved on, Rei, Akari and some of them including Roux, Yardang, Laminin, Scoville, Sisu and Lymphocyte hurried to the tables and boxes and hid there. Then the next group went, among them Malachite, Seishan and Elsa. The three young Nekomata's hearts were pounding throughout the run as trepidation sent their nerves into overdrive. It was indeed a dreadful feat as the Teddy waiters could appear suddenly, without warning and any moment. However, Malachite and her cousins felt relief sweep over them the moment they were under the one of the tables, which were unused currently. While the back of the line continued moving group by group to the tables and the boxes, those at the front continued with Carnelian leading them in the direction of the farthest wall. There, Carnelian, together with Rei and Akari's little group hid behind a decorative fence-like slab and looked out. They saw some Spider-Trains, more Lanky Limbed Teddies, some more Candy Woodland Creatures and some strange Cat-like creatures coloured yellow and black like bees and with wings and antennae, as they carried some sacks. They grouped together to talk for a while, seemingly discussing on who will be doing what and after that, the group broke up. Some went in one direction with the sacks containing the unconscious newcomers, and some more went with another unconscious creature. It was indeed a green Horse-like creature with Bat-like wings. Its wing undersides were orange and its mane and tail were light green. Arezu spotted the creature.
"There's Miss Chloroplast," the young Kangaroo Doe said. However, seeing Chloroplast like this threatened to send the Kangaroo into another fit of hysterical crying again but she knew she had to keep her composure or her crying could alert the Teddy waiters in the room. Not to mention Dolores on the balcony. Then more of the group turned up and saw the Spider-Trains and their company take the sacks toward what Carnelian called a 'rise-and-fall box'. Immediately, Rei and Akari sent some of their group members after that group with Akari deciding to accompany them. On the way, the group armed themselves with some wood sticks and metal bars they had found during their rush through the dining area to use as weapons. Roux had even armed herself with a plate she had found on the floor.
"Make sure you do NOT let yourselves get spotted by tat group until the right time," Rei explained to them, "Once you enter confrontation with them, you need to knock them out and rescue those newcomers. We'll go after the adult Longma."
Akari's subgroup nodded and continued following the group of Spider-Trains, Lanky Limbed Teddies, the bee-like cat creatures and Candy Woodland Creatures as they took the sacks containing the newcomers to the 'rise-and-fall boxes' or lifts/elevators. Only Rei was left with Arezu, Laminin and Scoville, Malachite, Elsa, Seishan, Yardang, Lymphocyte and Sisu. Rei then began to distribute some weapons to the group, handing Malachite, Elsa and Seishan a stick of wood each. Lymphocyte, however, still had his crossbow and arrows which he had somehow kept all along while Yardang and Sisu declined the use of weapons while Laminin had her pet Spitfire Bird cocked and loaded with the chemicals needed for the hot acid spray Spitfire Birds, both dumb and Talking, were known for though she had her satchel ready for use as a weapon. Once they were armed, Rei's group followed the other group, which were three Spider-Trains, as they carried the unconscious Chloroplast off in another direction.
Rei and Akari's mission in sending for help had been accomplished but now they had to focus on rescuing the other kidnapped victims and the newcomers including Chloroplast. However, their staying under the radar was not to last for much longer as Dolores' minions were fiercely searching up and down the area and they were doing it relentlessly.