Something Magic....(6)
JilaCosa -- Meeting each others eyes...
the group gives a collective sigh. What has this world done now but brought in two more of the residents from the Ballroom.
"I wish we could tell you that you are dreaming Kaybe," Mouse replied, "but this is real."
"I don't know about the rest of you," Jila spoke up suddenly, "and I know that the last time I suggested this we ran into trouble but, do you think we could rest for a couple hours and try to eat? That would give us some time to bring Kaybe and IQ up to speed on what's happening."
The group reluctantly agrees, really just wanting to get this whole thing over with than to keep putting things off even for a couple of hours. This will teach them to wish for adventures.
6th and Ragnar go off in the trees to see what they can find for game while the others hunt for roots and berries and tell the story of what has happened so far. By the time the story is told 6th and Ragnar have come back with a couple of skinny rabbits and a few partidge. Feeling quite happy about actually finding game on a dying world the two display their catches to the group. Jila swallows hard and turns pale. She gets up quickly, stumbling a bit with her first couple of steps.
"What's wrong, Jila?"
"Are you feeling okay?"
Jila hears the questions from the group but can't turn and answer them just yet. The tears stream down her cheeks like rivers.
"What's up Jila, are you okay?" Kaybe asks as she comes up behind Jila.
Jila turns to Kaybe and stutters through the tears "I just realized, I can't eat what they just hunted so hard for. I told you I can talk to animals here and I might have just talked to those rabbits on the trail. What am I going to do? I knew something would go wrong this time."
"It's okay." Kaybe says trying to comfort her friend "Don't worry, they'll understand and from what I've seen, there are plenty of roots and berries to give you a meal. Come on, let's go back and sit down."
By this time 6th and Ragnar have prepared the animals for cooking and are starting a proper fire. They group relax a bit but in the distance they can see the end of the river and the beginning of the Blasted Area
Spyral -- Plans before the journey start anew
The group finished eating their meal and Spyral stood up and made a suggestion.
"I think we should gather up some provisions before we head into that," the angel said motioning to the Blasted Area that lay ahead of them. "I seriously doubt that we are gonna find anything to eat or drink in there."
"But I can conjer up just about anything that we need angel," Rae said.
"Yeah! But I really think we should save both yours and Drums magic up. This desert is all that stands in our way from reaching Lochinars Spire. We just might need everything we have in us to take him down."
"I agree!" Ragnar said, moving a whetstone across the edge of one of his axes. "I also think we should start traveling at night. I don't know about the rest of you but I really think that place is gonna be hoter than Hades during the heat of the day."
"Good thinking Rag!" Mouse said.
"Well, I guess even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while eh Ball-Bearing?" Sixth asked sarcastically nudging the Viking with her elbow.
"Do you think we'll find Artic there?" Jila asked.
"I hope so," Spyral said, moving a stick around in aimless geometric designs in the dirt.
The group grew quiet at talk of their lost comrade. Everyone hoped that the kitten was alright.
"She's strong!' Kara said suddenly, but softly. "I'm sure she's okay!"
"Yeah....." Drum added quietly and with a soft smile.
"So! If we're gonna wait until nightfall, I think we should try and catch some shuteye. Judging by the sun, I'd say we have about six or seven hours before the sun goes down," Spyral said.
"We should post guards," Kaybe said. "From what you all have told me, I think someone should keep watch for more surprises."
"Good idea," the angel said. "Two hour shifts maybe? That way everyone gets some rest?"
"I'll take the first watch," Sixth said.
"I'll take the second," Ragnar said.
"I'll take the third," said Spyral. "I only sleep about four or five hours a night anyway."
The gang quickly raided the nearby bushes, stripping them of as many berries and nuts as they could find. To speed matters, Drum cast a small wind spell that shook the nearby trees enough to send a hailstorm of muts and berries falling over the 'Scapers, much to the dismay of the others. Drum simply stood with an innocent smile on his face and shrugged his shoulders. Filling their canteens at the rivers edge, the group settled down in various spots in some nearby shady grass and Sixth began to silently patrol the area.
Kaybe0 -- As Sixth patrolled the area
Kaybe laid with her friends to rest, with her hands entwined behind her head, looking up at the sky. She turned to see a worried Jilla glance at Mouse, to be sure she was resting properly. She saw Rae and Kara trying to rest, but looking ready to bolt up at any sound. Spyral, Drum, and Ragnar, allthough trying to relax, were talking quietly with determined looks on their faces, while IQ, still full of nervous energy, looked impatient at the wait. Kaybe, herself, found it hard to stay still. But, knowing the guys were right, and that it would be much cooler traveling at night. She forced herself to lay still, with thoughts of Artic's safety, running through her brain, as well as the amazing story her friends had told her of this Kaldore, with Falador and Lochiner, and the Sentinels. No wonder they all looked so battle weary. What an adventure this was turning out to be. Feeling secure in the knowledge of Rae and Drum's magic, and Jila's ability to talk to the animals, (a twinge of pain went through her heart at her friend's sorrow for the animals they ate,) she wondered if her own surprising ability, to make whatever she wanted stand still in time, would come in handy on their mission.With one more glance to make sure Sixth was okay, she closed her eyes with a sigh. With what lay ahead of them, every thing they could muster, would come in handy.
IQ120 -- IQ sat in his bed, kicking himself...
...for not volenteering to be put on watch first. He'd just gotten here and would probably be less tired than everyone who'd been here for a while.
IQ finally laid down to go to sleep, and as he did, he look down at his nose ring.
*I know!* he thought, *I'm supposed to be a medicine man...or a witch doctor of some kind. Neeto!!!!!*
Raven Kat -- Wow, the gang’s all here
Rae thinks as she lies in her sleeping-bag.
Unable to sleep, she silently rises and moves out to join Sixth on her watch. Two sets of eyes (and ears) are better than one, after all, and this close to Lochinar's territory, extra vigilance is called for. It might be wise, she decided, to stay up all night, and this person she was becoming needed less sleep.
"What's wrong, Rae?" Sixth asked near the end of the watch. The sorceress looked distracted, and that could be dangerous to them all.
"Huh? Oh, sorry, it's this whole situation. It's like we're becoming these people." Rae gestures to Sixth's black armor and makes hand motions to indicate her own discarded gown. "I for one don't like it. None of us are really us anymore, Sixy, and it's getting worse and worse the closer we get to Lochinar's spire. For me anyhow. You?"
artickat -- “I will NOT!”
Artic yelled at the top of her lungs and Saber began howling.
"Yes you WILL! Now stand still!" Martstel cried out as she tried to tie bows in Artic's fur. "I can't tie these bow's correctly if you keep squirming! You where fine during the bath WHY are you pitching a fit now?"
"BECAUSE I'm not 10 years old...therefore I'm not wearing bows in my hair! This dress is bad enough!" Artic growls back as she squirms away from Martstel again. Martstel shoots Artic a look that clearly says what she is thinking "Hey! Don't look at me like that! Okay...so I act like I'm 10 sometimes...alright...most of the time but I'm not!" Artic ends her speech by sticking her tongue out at the Lady.
Turning a bright red at Artic's impertinence, Lady Martstel shuffles herself over to the door and swings it wide-open "GUARDS!"
Artic begins to panic…running around the room with Saber following close on her heels she tries to look for a hiding place. "Shhhh! Don't call the guards! You...you...grouchy old...Lady!" Artic cries out after giving up the hope of finding a good hiding place in the room and running out the door. Saber bumps Martstel in his effort to stay with Artic and knocks her on her bustle.
"Oh!" Martstel cries out as she hits the floor with a <THUD> "GUARDS!"
Hearing Benny Hill music in her head Artic takes off down the hall with the guards, Martstel and a howling Saber on her heels.
*Man! How do they expect me to run in this God awful pink taffeta?! I can't believe that grouch thought this was a dress! Please God don't let the Scooby Gang see me in this!* Artic thinks to herself as she runs down the hall at full speed.
KaraS -- Ragnar’s and Spyral’s watches
proceeded uneventfully. At sunset, Jila took off on her dragon to provide arial support. The rest of the gang gathered up their stuff and headed off into the blasted lands. There was no grass, no live trees or bushes, not even a weed, just the skeletons of dead plants and, occasionaly, animals. It was very depressing. As the night wore on, the gang pressed on, first by moonlight, then, after the moon set, by starlight.
As they were making their way through a forest of dead trees the gang saw their first live thing since they had entered the blasted lands.
"Hold up everybody." KaraS said. "Do you hear that strange rustling noise?"
"Now that you mention it," Ragnar said. "I do."
"What is it?" Kaybe asked.
"I'm not sure." Sixth said. "I think..."
"Duck!" Rae yelled. "Here they come!"
As everyone hit the ground the group was engulfed by a swarm of hungry vampire bats...
IQ120 -- HELLO BATS!!!!!!!!
IQ screamed at the top of his voice, as he stood up.
"aiaiaiaiaiaiaiaiaiaiaiaiaiaiaiaiaiaiaiaiaiaiaiaiaiaiai"
"IQ what are you doing?" yelled Ragnar,"Get Down!"
"aiaiaiaiaiaiaiaiaiaiaiaiaiaiai" IQ continued to yell at the top of his lungs, and as he did the bats swerved to the left and right in a confused flurry.
"AIAIAIAIAIAIAIAIAIAIAIAIAI" IQ continued to yell. The bats unable to figure out where things were(bats use sonar) flew around in a confused flurry.
Mouse2000 -- With IQ
momentarily confusing the bats, Rae quickly made a protective circle around the group similar to the one that they used to go underwater. The bats proceeded to fly around and over the circle, and when they finally realized they couldn't break through, they dispersed.
"Great thinking IQ," Mouse said. You're already helping out a lot. I really hate bats..." she trailed off, unwilling to admit to a few secret fears.
Rae dismissed the circle, and the group moved on. The going was tiring and difficult, as the group was not used to moving at night and required extra effort to not trip and fall over the most mundane things.
She had noticed in the past couple days a hardness had come over her that was nothing like her regular self. She felt less and less like a member of the group and more and more like a lone tracker, feeling that the forest was her home, and that's where she should be. Going up again Lochinar seemed less important at times, and when these feelings came over her, she fought them, because the other part of her wanted to do what they were brought here to do, and get back to the mansion.
She had noticed a hardness in 6th , Rae, and partly in Ragnar also, while Jila, Ghost, Kara, Spyral, and Drumheller seemed to be their normal selves, but just a bit stressed, as was expected. Kaybe and IQ were recent additions to the group and who knew what artickat was up to, or even where she was.
*Or maybe they just hide it well...* The suspicious thought formed in her mind before she could stop it and she physically shook her head. *NO that's NOT what's going on and stop thinking that way!* she told herself sternly. She pressed herself to move on with the group and to get out of this mood, if that's indeed what it was.
And over the dark landscape, the presence of the Spire was unseen, but felt.
Drumheller -- Even though...
the night air was fairly cool, Drumheller found himself
breaking into a cold sweat. It seemed the closer the group
got to their destination, the more drained he felt, and the
tougher it was to funtion.
*How can we hope to defeat someone who can drain the magic
from the land itself!*, Drumheller thought to himself.*The
closer we get, the more I can feel the magic draining from
ME!*
With that thought Drumheller was suddenly overcome with a
dizzy, nauseous, feeling. With a groan he collapsed.
"Drum!", shouted spyral as he ran to his side. "Rae, I may
need some help here!"
IQ120 -- When the bats reached their cave...
...their leader plunged into the deepest cavern, and there he found a Balrog!
"Well?" asked the Balrog.
"Sir," said the bat,"we tested their defenses. Lochinar was right. We will need more force."
"Very well," said the Balrog, almost in a growl."Prepare your entire army this time. I will tell the other generals, and we will intersept them at the unseen crater, in two hours."
KaraS -- At the unseen crater
As the night wore on the group became more and more tired. Drumheller had already collapsed once, and while he had been revived by one of Rae's herbal potions, he was still pale and weak. The others took turns half carying him as they trudged on.
While so far only Drumheller had collapsed, the other magic workers in the party, Rae, KaraS and IQ120 were definetly feeling the strain of approaching the magical drain.
Toward dawn, the path started to go down into a sort of valley. When they reached the bottom, they stopped.
"Perhaps we should stop here for the day." Ragnar said to Sixth.
"Perhaps you're right." Sixth agreed.
As the group stopped, Spyral helped Drumheller sit down on a boulder where he slumped dejectedly. KaraS sighed loudly as she sat down on the ground. Rae leaned tiredly against Kaybe. IQ leaned on his spear, half asleep.
"We should find some kind of cover." Sixth said. "The sun will be up soon. Then it will get HOT. We need some shade."
"How about those rocks over there?" Lurkingghost said.
Everyone went over to the rocks. Just as they were settling down they heared the approach of the bats again.
"Ohhhhhh." Rae groaned. "Not again."
She cast her magic circle around the rocks and it took most of her remaining strength.
"Nyh nyh, you can't get us." IQ sang at the bats.
"Hey!" KaraS said. "Is something else inside the circle with us?"
As the sun rose, the group could see that indeed, they were not alone in the circle. Creeping around the rocks they were hiding among were the largest, most evil looking rats they had ever seen.
"EEEEEEkkkkkkkk!!!!" Mouse screamed as a huge rat ran across her foot.
"Not only are there rats in here." Spyral said. "Outside with the rats are bees and wasps."
"And there are scorpions in here with the rats!" Drumheller said.
Oh no! What shall they do???
Kaybe0 -- Remembering the she could make things
stand still in time, Kaybe quickly raised her speer, and instantly the rats and scorpians inside the protective circle froze in place. The panic subsided momentarily to give the group time to think. Glancing apologetically at Rae, Kaybe said, "Sorry Rae, I can't make anything outside your circle stand still." Looking around to make sure no one had been bitten by the creatures, Kaybe looked at Jilla.
"Can you talk to them Jilla? Can you make them tell us why they are here, and who sent them? I don't know if you can reach them while they are motionless, but, one of us is quite likely to be bitten as soon as I release them. And, we have no idea how we would react to their bite." Looking at Drum, and then at Rae, Kara, and IQ, she knew they could not afford to lose what little magic and strength they had left.
Raven Kat -- “I’m not sure.”
Jila says slowly. "I mean... bugs. And I can't exactly MAKE them talk."
"Tell you what." Rae says grimly. "I'll MAKE them talk, you translate."
RagnarRB -- Crunch
"Ooops" Ragnar intoned with fake innocence, "I must have stepped on one...or two...or three..." He very thouroughy stepped on the nearest scorpions.
"That's not helping Rag." 6th admonished....while stepping on the ones nearest her as well.
"Maybe not but it helps me think." Stomp...stomp...."Besides these are the critters most likely to hurt us." He paused....
"Wait a minute...." He looked around, making note of all the little rodents. He looked back up at the gang. "Correct me if I'm wrong but we aren't in Kansas anymore right?"
Everyone just looked at him wondering with insanity he was about to think up now.
"You don't see it do you?" He asked.
No one answered.
"The bugs gang, the bugs. If we are not in our world anymore and this world is made up of entire different creatures...then why do we have earth bugs?! I mean this land thrives on magic, cockroachs thrive on...well they thrive."
There was a moments silence. "Are you suggesting what I think you are Ragnar?" Kara asked.
"Maybe. I mean look, the little dwarf runt claimed that each of us had our own special magic right? Not just the mage types amungst us. He told us that it was different from this land and that it could stand up to Lockinar. If so how come we're weakened? How come Drum is near collapse? If our magic isn't effected by the drain then what's happening?"
Again silence.
"Has one of us spent a little time in Lockinars equivilent of the aurora chair? Artickat's still missing. How would he get things here like scorpions if he didn't read our minds? Are we really weak or do we only think we are?"
...In the distance a scarlett clad figure flinched....
Drumheller -- “Good thinking, Rag!”
"That gives me an idea.", Drumheller says as he begins to
wave his hands and chant softly. "There, that should do it."
Almost instantly the magic-users in the group began to feel
stronger, and the bugs and vermin began to disappear.
"Wow, I feel better. What'd you do Drum.", Rae said
"I cast a spell that will shield our minds from Lochinar.",
Drum replied with a dren eating grin. "That was a great
idea Ragnar, but my spell won't last forever. I'll have to
renew it everyday until we finish this quest."
"Great! Let's all get some rest now. We'll travel on as
soon as it gets dark.", Sixth said. "We should also double
the watch now, since we're getting so close to the enemy."
"Good idea, I'll take first watch with ya Sixth.", Drum
said. "I feel great now, full of energy."
IQ120 -- A few hours later
...everyone packed up their stuff and prepared for another nights journey. The gang had breakfast,(strange as that may sound) just as the sun was setting. JilaCosa took of on her dragon, and the others started of on foot. A short time later, they came across something very odd...a covered bridge! In the middle of the blasted lands. In front of the bridge was an old man, he had a white beard down to his knees, and he wore a tattered grey robe. He was leaning on a staff and snoring very loudly. The sound of the approaching Scapers waked him.
"...huh...oh...salutations travelers...If you wish to cross the bridge, pay the toll you must!"
The old man stood there waiting for a response.
"I think we'll just go around." said IQ, not sure if the old man hadn't spent a little bit too much time in the blasted lands."
"Not wise that is," Responded the old man.
JilaCosa -- Seeing the group stop by the bridge
Jila asked the dragon to land so that she could find out what was going on. Her head had ached all through the day and all of the time she and Geradan had been in the air. On landing the pain became intense, worse than a migraine. She slid off the dragon's back and landed with a dull thump in a heap on the ground. Rolling onto her side she pressed her temples hard. The dragon roared with her pain. The lynx ran to her and pressed it's head against her with worry.
"Cat..... go... get... the... others." Jila moaned.
The cat ran over to the others who were discussing how to deal with the old man at the bridge and why not using the bridge might be so bad. It stood on its hind legs and put its front paws on the butt of the closest person; Mouse. Reaching around behind her, Mouse gives the cat an affectionate pat on the head. Not getting the results she is looking for, the lynx extends her claws just enough to poke eight sharp claws into Mouse's tender behind.
"YEOW!" Mouse yells turning in the direction of the lynx. "What in Hezmana are you doing Cat???"
The cat runs back to Jila while the dragon roars again.
"JILA!!"
"By the Goddess!!"
The group runs over to Jila to find out what is wrong. Some of the group kneel beside her while others stand back out of the way.
"I promise you guys," Drumheller says looking at Jila, "this is NOT a side affect of my spell."
"Could she have gotten stung by one of the insects?" IQ asks and starts a chant of healing.
"Stop IQ," KaraS says, putting a hand on his shoulder. "It's not an insect sting. If it was she would have shown signs during the day when while we were camped."
"If you ask me," Lurkingghost says, not sure that she should speak up, "I think it's a side effect of her own magic. What animals there are left in this region are in one stage or another of dying. I think she can hear and feel the death around her."
Jila moaned in pain, the tears stream down her face, and the dragon echoes her even louder.
"Frell." Spyral shook his head. "We need her in the air, especially now. It's too dark for anyone but her and the dragon to see what we're heading into."
"We need to get her out of this area," Rae stated. "At least during the day. Since she'd be down on the ground resting with us anyway it won't matter if she's not with us. The only problem is how is she going to stay on the dragon while it flies her out and brings her back? Someone will have to go with her, but who? The only logical answer is one of you guys. We're all smaller than she is and if she starts to tip over........."
"We'll have to take turns." Ragnar answers. "One of us a day until we're on the other side of this area. Which one of us goes first?"
Raven Kat -- “I’ll go with her.”
Rae says, stepping forward. "I can keep her tapped into my life-force, which should help a little."
"What'll it do to you?" Ragnar asks, frowning.
Rae shrugged and gestured at Jila. "Look at her. It can't be worse than that, and even if it is, it'll be worth it." Rae pulls off one of her rings and slides it onto Jila's hand, chanting as she does so.
"Oh, I feel better." Jila says.
"Great. Let's go!"
Mouse2000 - With Jila and Rae in the air, the gang
still had to face the old man by the bridge. A new feeling of relaxed giddiness (what a combination) stole over the gang since Drumheller shielded their minds from Lochinar, and it was beginning to show. As they studied to old man by the bridge, Drum and Mouse looked at each other and whispered, "What's your favorite color?"
Spyral heard them, and interjected, "Yellow, no Blue, ahhhhh!" recalling a couple lines from Monty Python.
Ghost looked at them and said, "Very funny, but don't you think we should deal with this guy?" Mouse, Spyral, and Drumheller were too busy laughing at themselves to pay much attention, but the old man seemed to be getting annoyed.
"The TOLL!" he intoned.
"What toll do you mean?" Kaybe asked.
"To cross, you must pay." The old man said.
"Well, what do you WANT?" Sixth asked, wanting to get along with the trip.
Kaybe0 - “I Want Magic!”
"That is the Toll." The old man announces, looking at them expectantly. Then looking around him, he states sadly, "No one has succesfully given me magic for a long time now. No magic left." *The group looks around, too, and notices bones laying here and there, close to the bridge. "Now, you listen here old man!" yells Kara angrily, as Drum grabs her shoulder to keep her back. "You must know," said Kay with a shudder, stepping up boldly to the old man,"That if you are evil, we would never let you have any of our magic. And, even if you are good, and, I don't think you are,(looking around at the bones) we still would not dare give up any of the magic that we have left." "Magic, that is the toll." said the old man, as if no one had even spoke. "Now, listen", said Mouse. "Do you want something? Maybe we can make it for you." As the old man just stared at them, Ragnar pulled Kay and Mouse back, and stood directly in front of him. He had the look on his face that meant he was very tired of the games. Grabbing the old man by his neck, he snarled "Well, my friend, you will start talking real fast now, Savvy?" "Put him down, Rag", said Spyrel stepping up and putting his hand on his friend's arm. We will get no where this way. "Look sir", he said. Maybe if you tell us why you want this. Who sent you here to guard this bridge?" "Who do you work for?" piped in Sixth, as Artic searched the sky to see if she could spot Jilla and Rae. IQ, also searching the sky, whispered to Drum, "I wonder if the dragon could just take us over to the other side. This situation does not look like it is going to resolve easily." "It may take a while for Rae and Jilla to notice we are still here, and come back." Drum whispered back. "Let's just see what his answer is, first."
RagnarRB - While you’re answering questions
"Tell me just how do you plan on stopping us from crossing?"
The old man only smiled.
IQ120 - “HA!”
Laughed the old man very loudly.
"I Don't," he said, "but, of course, IT does."
The scoobies looked at each other in suprise.
"What do you mean by IT?" asked Ragnar.
"IT is an (unintelligable groop of syllables) and it doesn't like people walking on his lair. You could always go around, of course, but its tail reaches a days walk that way, and its head reaches a days walk that way."
Raven Kat - Flying high....
"How are you feeling, Jila?" Rae asks as the two fly high over the shattered country-side. Anything to take her mind off the carnage below.
"WHAT?" Jila shouts. "CAN'T HEAR YOU!"
Rae gestures for Jila to take the dragon down for a moment so the two can talk more easily.
"How are you?" Rae asks again. "Are you okay?"
"Uh, yeah. Much better. But I feel a little... wierd." Jila shrugs apologetically.
"Yeah, I thought you might. I guess I'm being affected by all of this, too. We both have a pretty strong bond to this world."
Jila nods. "Are you sick?"
"Don't know. How you feel now, that's how I've been feeling since we got here. I don't think it'll kill me. Least, not anytime soon, but we're both in pretty big trouble. You know that, don't you?"
Jila nods. "We both draw power from the land."
"And the land is dying." Rae nods and helps Jila back onto the dragon. "We should go back. I haven't seen the others for hours, and I think we've got enough scouting done for today."
"Yeah. I think we should make camp soon. I'm tired."
Rae nods. "Me too. Let's go see what's holding everybody up."
RagnarRB - Ragnar looks at the land and snickers
"Yeah old man, and i suppose you have some swamp land around here to sell us to boot. A monster that big only exist in your dreams!"
"Be wary Barbarian, what you say is heard."
"Uh yeah...Come on 6thy lets just cross this thing and get it over with....."
KaraS - “I don’t think that’s a good idea...”
KaraS said. "I feel something very large under the earth's surface here. The old man might be telling the truth. Let's use the bridge."
"But he wants our magic as payment!" Drumheller said aghast.
"So? Give him some magic Drum. Turn him into a frog."
"If you think that's a good idea." Drumheller said. "I'll give it a try."
The old man began to look nervous as Drumheller began chanting and waving his hands around...
Sixth Sense Dreamer - “Drum, stop!” 6th said
"He's got to be bluffing. Let me and Ragnar just check first. We'll just take a little look see at the bridge, ok?"
"NO!" the old man cried, "I NEED that magic!"
"Yeah, but we don't know who you need it FOR." Mouse said. "Just let them check your bridge a little."
"Absolutely NOT!" the old man yelled, "I forbid..." but the viking had heard enough. He hefted the old man up by the shoulders and set him to one side. The wizened old man squalked in protest, but desisted at the point of 6th's black blade and wicked grinning.
"Right. Come on, Princess." the Viking motioned to 6th and the two warriors confidently strode onto the bridge.
"YOu dont understand...!" the old man wailed after them.
The bridge was longer crossing than it had looked. 6th and Ragnar walked along the creaking bridge until they reached the middle.
"Perfectly safe." Ragnar smiled, juming up and down a little to test the bridge's strength. Aside from creaking more, the bridge held firm.
"Yeah it's fine, guys, no monst..." 6th turned to call back to the rest of the gang, and saw that although she and her viking pal had definately walked a short ways on the bridge, the distance between the gang and themselves was a LOT greater than a short walk.
"Hey, Rag, um...did we really walk THAT far?" she asked, pointing to the specks in the distance that could only be the gang.
Ragnar frowned. "No. No way did we walk THAT frelling far..." he hefted his axes, his warrior senses expecting trouble. 6th followed his lead, holding her sword up and scanning the surrounding area.
All was quiet...
TOO quiet...
A rumbling growl began, echoing around them. It grew louder as 6th and Ragnar worriedly looked around them. Nothing.
6th peered over theedge of the bridge. Gulping, she turned to the viking. "Rag, doll, sugar, sweetiepie...is the ground moving on YOUR side of the bridge?"
Ragnar looked over the other side and turned to 6th, nodding.
As far as they could see in both directions, the ground was rumbling and lifting in a relatively gigantic dragon shape. Ragnar protectively stepped in front of 6th as the sand and dirt and blasted ground colesced into a monstrous sand Dragon. It's middle was situated underneath the bridge, and it's head curled around to peer malevelently at the two small warriors. It's tail trashed angrily as it turned and lowered it's sandy head to bring it's eye to level with 6th and Ragnar. It snorted sand out of it's nostrils as it's snaky tongue flicked out over its teeth of granite and marble.
The old man's voice came echoing down the bridge. "You should have listened to me and paid my toll. Now you will pay for your insolence!"
6th and Ragnar looked at each other and swallowed hard.
RagnarRB - Ragnar scoffed and chortled
"Insolence old man!? You call that insolence? HAW! Wait until we poke the bugger in the nose and invite him home to play! You need to lean more abnout the Scoobie gang Mr. You ought to spend some time in one of Spyral's dreams!" The viking called out with bravado.
Glancing sideways but not looking away from the creature ..."Lookie 6thy it's a baby!"
6th looked incredulous....what's that creeping around the corner of your mouth dear? A smile.
Ragnar shouldered his axe in a brazenly unfazed position, non threatening...calm yet on guard and ready to move. "Do you have a name Mr. Dragon? I want to make sure we spell it right in the memoirs...After all it's only proper, you being such a great creature and all..."
Sixth Sense Dreamer - 6th opened her mouth to spout some
sarcastic reply when the dragon, with a great deal of harrumphing and aheming said "My name is Major Blackstone Cherry, of her royal highness, the Empress Chateleinne III, Queen of all WInged Dragons and other assorted various wing-ed creatures. You've heard of me, eh what?"
"Um..." Ragnar said. He hadn't been expecting the dragon to reply at all, certainly not with such a proper clipped British accent.
"Sure we have!" 6th said, elbowing Ragnar in the side.
The Dragon rested his sandy chin on one scaly paw and eyed the two warriors, sand puffing up out of his nostrils in great clouds.
"I'm supposed to eat you, though I'll bloody well rather eat my own tail as to do that. It's the rules, you know." he sighed. "Now if you two little creatures will hold still, I'll try to swallow you down whole..." he began to open his great mouth.
"WAIT!" Ragnar yelled. The dragon stopped, his mouth half open.
"Wait? Why? I don't suppose you might have some sauce to douse yourself in, eh? You little two legged creatures do taste foul."
"Um...no sauce. I just wanted to ask you what rules you meant." Ragnar asked, leaning on one axe, the other slung on his shoulder.
"Oh. That." the dragon snorted, sand whipping around Ragnar and 6th. As they coughed and sneezed, the dragon continued, "That bloody old man has me caught here. Trapped me while I was taking a bit of a nappy-poo. Didn't wake up until it was to late for me. The old bugger got me caught under this pile of kindling tighter than a vice. He's a real bully, that one. Told me I was to eat anyone that walked across if he didn't give me the signal. He uses the magic he get of the poor travelers to keep me here under this bridge. Otherwise, I'd be out of here in a jiff. So, as nice as it's been chatting with you, I really must get on with my job. You understand, eh, old bean?" And with that, the dragon leaned down to swallow them.
"Wait!!!" 6th cried. The dragon stopped again, his marble and granite teeth inches from their heads.
"Whath?" he asked again, his mouth still open.
"How about if we freed you?" 6th asked, smiling her prettiest smile. The dragon paused, surprised. He drew back.
"You'd do that for me? Oh that'd be jolly ripping, that would!"
"Ok." 6th smiled more. "Let me just discuss this with my friend a sec." she turned to the viking. "Do YOU have any idea how we go about freeing him?" she whispered.
"Hey, don't look at me! You said you'd free him, not me! I thought you had an idea." Ragnar whispered back.
"Hmmmm..."
6th looked back up at the enormous dragon peering down on her. "um, say...major Blackstone, sir, do you know HOW to free you?"
"I would guess that getting rid of the old man should do it. I would have done it myself, but that's part of the magic. Can't do it, you know. Bit of a sticky wicket and all that rot...But you could lop off his head or some such thing."
6th and Ragnar looked at each other. Warriors though they were, lopping off an old man's anything didn't appeal to them.
"how about if we..."
"Or we COULD..."
"Or what if..." they got the idea at the same time.
6th turned to look down the bridge where their friends were. She could hear them yelling, at the old man or at her she couldn't tell. Waving her arms wildly and jumping up and down she yelled. "DRUM!!! RAE!!! SOMEBODY!!!! ZAP THE OLD MAN!!!"
***what?*** she heard Drum's voice waft up to her ears.
"Turn him into something!" 6th screeched
***huh?*** came the reply
6th sighed and turned to the hulking Viking standing behind her, waiting rather impatiently. She bowed slightly and gestured for him to try.
"DRUM, FROG THE OLD GUY!!!!!!!" Ragnar bellowed.
************************
Drum turned to Kara "Did he say what I thought he said?" he asked.
KaraS nodded, grabbing the old man by one arm as he tried to sidle away.
Drum began his chanting once again...
RagnarRB - Drum’s little voice whispered
to himself. <<self this is not a good time to screw it up>>>
<<<I cann't help it if that addled thing you call a brain and the forked tongue keep screwing up the words!>> self replied.
<<<not our fault, now get cracking>>>himself impatiently admonished.
Drum began to chant. He really wasn't certain why nothing had happened when he tried just this thing a moment before. Any how....he concentrated and the gang waited.
The old man cringed, feeling the magics swirling around him, ebbing, flowing, building...the pure ecasty of it! Oh if only he had that kind of power...
Behind him Kara began to change form ...ribbit ....ribbit ....ribbit...
The old man glanced over his shoulder and down at Kara...who had taken on the form of a frog.
Sixth Sense Dreamer - 6th squinted
down the long stretch of bridge. One of the tiny figures at the end had either disappeared or shrunk, but she couldn't tell who.
"Hey Major, you feel free?" she called up to the dragon.
The Major wriggled, sand shifting down on 6th and Ragnar.
"Not a bit, lovey. Perhaps your percussion instrument and your sunrays missed the old bugger, eh, what?"
"That's DRUM and RAE and I can't tell what's going on over there!" 6th said, shaking her head. Sand flew as she did, both she and Ragnar were covered in sand from the dragon.
"We could try something else!" Ragnar said, trying to brush sand off of himself. He sat down and took off one of his boots, sand pouring out from it in a small pile.
"Like what?" 6th asked, feeling sand inside her clothes. She squirmed around, trying to get rid of the uncomfortable feeling of itchy sand.
"How about hacking at this bridge?" Ragnar said, putting his boot back on and standing up.
"Worth a shot..." 6th grinned. They both turned and began hacking at the bridge. Wood chips went flying as Ragnar wailed away with his axes. 6th chopped at the posts and the dragon, getting the idea, began to tear away at the support beams with his teeth. Between spiiting out bits of wood, he said "I say, you two are just full of good ideas! Where were you two four hundred years ago?"
"Not...<ugh!> born yet!" 6th called out.
Ragnar wondered how the gang were doing, and just what had gone on with the spell.
*************************
Drum was aghast. Darn his accident prone spell casting! Kara hopped around the old man's feet
...ribbit...ribbit...ribbit...
Mouse grabbed Drum and shook him. "WHAT DID YOU DO???" she cried, horrified.
"I...uh..." Was all Drum could manage.
"Change her back!"
"No, change the old man!"
"Someone do SOMETHING!"
The old man, seeing his chance, lifted his foot. Spyral tackled him from behind before he could squoosh poor Kara.
The angel sat on the old man, pinning him down. "Whatever you're going to do, hurry up!" he yelled, "This old guy's a lot stronger than he looks!"
RagnarRB - I say ole chappers
"That's the spirit! By criminy I think I felt it budge a mite!" The dragon was obviously pleased. Blowing big clouds of sand on his two wouldbe rescuers.
"Cough, sputter, sputter...."6th gagged.
"Begging the lasses pardon, how colonial of me, been around that bugger of an old sod too long, must of lost my manners. What would the missus think...crickets!" With that proper British phrasing the dragon leaned in and with a long abrasive tongue licked 6th to help remove some of the sand.
"UUggg! Ragnar!" 6th arms flailed as the shear size of the tongue picked her up a meter of the bridge before she slithered down its surface....plop!
She landed on her rear, backside sandy, front side...well Ragnar didn't feel the urge to hug her at the moment.
"Much better lass yes?"
6th sputtered and Ragan tried not to laugh.
"Good show, always try to be of survice I say, That's my sportin motto!" The dragon seemed imeasurable pleased with himself. Four hunder years must be a long time to lay in the sand.
"Feeling loose yet?" Ragnar asked.He was sweating horribly. This chopping was beginning to feel like work, and the sand was eating him alive inside all the armor.
"Haven't your companions lopped the little buggers head of or something yet?...oh what's that chap? Soory was a mite distracted. Looser you ask?...let me wiggle a smidge and see."
The great worm began to squirm...
Ragnar wouldn't have minded so much....if it didn't feel more like an earthquake than a wiggle!
"I do believe we're making progress. Do continue lads, do!"
A ripple effect in the sand was cascading outward from the dragon....the gang in it's path...
Drumheller -- “OH MY!!!!”
Drumheller shouted. "What have I done!?!"
"I don't know but you better UNdo it!", cried Mouse.
"Wait, do something about this old guy first!", Spyral
shouted, still trying to hold him down.
"O.k. Spyral, I got a plan! On the count of three, jump!"
Drum yelled, and then started to chant again.
"NO! DRUM, WAIT!", Spyral shouted in a panic. Seeing it was
too late to stop him, Spyral jumped as far from the old man as he could.
*ZZZZAP* A bolt of white light shot from Drum's hands,
striking the old man in the chest. Instantly the old fart
was encased in a shimmering energy cage.
"I DID it!!", Drumheller yelled, suprised at his success.
"Great! Now what are you gonna do about Kara?", Mouse said.
"Ummmmm...."
KaraS -- “Gribbet, gribbet”
Kara hopped around in a panic. One minute she had been standing there, minding her own buisness, watching Drum turn the old man into a frog. The next minute she had felt very dizzy. Everything around her had seemed to grow and expand. Suddenly, she only came up to Drum's ankle and it was very scary.
"Gribbit gribbit!" she exclaimed as she hopped about.
*Wait a minute.* she thought to herself. *Since when do I say 'Gribbit'? And since when do I hop about on all fours? And why does the air feel so much dryer than it did before?*
As Kara was pondering these deep questions, the sand underneath her started to heave and buck. The others were thrown from their feet as a tremendous earthquake rocked the ground.
Drumheller crashed to the ground right next to her, barely missing her. Mouse screeched somewhere off in the distance. The forcefield around the old man faded away, but he was too busy being rolled around by the earthquake to be able to take advantage of the situation.
Frightened of being squished by all these gigantic beings around her, Kara used the momentum from the earthquake to put some distance between herself and the group. As the shaking stopped, and the ground settled around her, Kara crouched in the shade of a small rock, hiding from possible threats.
The air was uncomfortably dry. Her skin was drying out.
As the magic took full effect, KaraS' concious mind drained away. Soon, there was only frog. With her last concious thought Kara reflected that if she could still talk she could cast a counterspell...
Kaybe0 -- Kara! Kaybe yells as she and Mouse
look for their friend. "There she is! under that rock" says Kay as she tries to keep her balance from the shifting ground beneath them. Mouse lunges for the Kara, but the frog jumps away frightened. As the ground moves more violently beneath them, they start to tumble about, and IQ quickly leaps and lands on top of the frog, capturing it in his shirt."Stay with me froggie. your safer that way, he says trying to make the frog safe and secure, and keep his own balance at the same time.
KaraS -- Gribbet, gribbet, gribbet
KaraS thrashes around in panic as she is enclosed in IQ's shirt. Her human mind has faded away and she does not understand what is going on.
"Gribbit gribbit!" she croaks.
Suddenly, she freezes. Perhaps if she stays still and hidden in this dark place danger will pass her by.
Raven Kat -- “They’re still at the bridge!”
"What the frell?" Rae demands.
"Uh, Rae, does it look a little like the ground's shaking?" Jila asks.
"Could be. Take us down."
"No way!" Jila shakes her head and pats the dragon's head. "He could get hurt."
"So could our freinds." Rae points out. "Crikey, what's wrong with everybody today?" she mutters. "Just get close enough for me to jump."
"It's your hide." Jila shrugs and the dragon glides lower. "Close enough? I don't think he'll get closer."
"What do I look like, a frelling para-trooper?" Rae shouts. "Oh well, I always wanted to join an air-borne division." Rae slowly rises and jumps off the dragon's back.
RagnarRB -- I say
...."The sand dragon began, having squirmed a bit further from under the bridge. The time the old gizzard was in the energy spell had been useful...only the better part of three quarters of a mile worth of dragon to go. Of course Ragnar and 6th, not knowing about the spell, were surely positive it was all their hacking that was setting the beast free.
If only Rae could see them now. The Major wasn't exactly a momma duck and hatchlings but he WAS worth saving...besides they didn't get eaten this way. Who knows, one day it might be Rae getting saved.
"Huh..."6th moaned, taking a moment to catch her breath. She was covered in filth again, but wasn't about to ask for another licken.
Ragnar looked up at the major, feeling the strain himself.
The dragon continued. "...I do believe it's a cousin." The major beemed, if such is possible for a dragon. "Jolly oh that, been far to long since I enjoyed any civilized companions. Beggins your pardom maam but you two legs just aren't cricky in your smarts." The dragon seemed guinely appologetic for the two legs flaws. Might magnanamous of him don't you think?
Ragnar and 6th scanned the sky.
Sure enough Jila and company were returning. Ragnar moved over to 6th. "Reckon she got to wondering what was keeping us?"
"Likely...."The viking replied. "With Rae along I'm suprised they weren't back sooner. She has a nose for trouble. Hates to miss it almost as much as you do."
6th smiled.
"Over here Laddie!!!" the dragon bellowed. For some reason Geralden and Jila were having none of it.
The major was amiss....why wouldn't the little one come closer? He lowered his head to 6th. "What's wrong with the beasty cann't he hear?" The dragon head zipped back up to look at Gerelden.
The dragon head zinged down to 6th..."Don't suppose it's me breath do you...been a while since I flossed. Say I don't suppose one of you volunteer to let me chew on you a bit...you know, get the plax off my teeth and all that...no suppose not." Neither Ragnar or 6th had moved a muscle. The dragon head shot back up.
"Does this guy need a social life or what..." Ragnar mumbled to 6thy.
The dragon head came back down again."Must be a bashful lad...you think?"
"Uh yeah...."Ragnar helpfully replied. The major raised himself yet again.
Something was happening with Jila.
"What's she doing?"
"Cann't really tell. Gerelden doesn't seem to want to get closer...." 6th replied.
"It looks like someone is standing up....naw...she wouldn't would she?"
"Wouldn't what?"
"Wouldn't try to jump." Ragnar finished and...
...sure enough Rae jumped.
"RAGNAR!!!"
"Frell..." Ragnar hissed between his teeth. Just what were they supposed to do now. Rae was plummeting and too far away to boot. Hope the sand is soft.
6th turned to the Major, "Help us, please. She'll die!"
"What...what...what's that..." The dragon sputtered as his attention took a moment to shift to 6th.
"Our friend!" 6th yelled, "She's falling!"
One dragon eye rolled. "Oh dear...cann't have that now can we." He chipped.
With a speed astonishing to witness in a creature so big a massive sand dragon head darted up into the air...at just the right moment, rows of stone teeth appeared and Rae fell into the open maw, snatched from the air...
...inside the Majors Mouth!