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Post by Captain Killian 'Hook' Jones on Mar 31, 2013 11:58:19 GMT -5
"Are you sure this is the right key....?" Hook asked, quirking an eyebrow. The key clinked a twisted against the lock till finally it seemed to stick,"Good... Now it'll just-"
As Else turned the key, it gave a brittle sounding snap- leaving the teeth of the key in the lock and the remainder in Else's il hand. Hook blinked not quite registering what happened right off, then swore under his breath,"that was the right key.... Wasn't it?"
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Post by Sally Fitch/Clever Else on Mar 31, 2013 12:09:22 GMT -5
For a change it was Else's turn to swear coarsely, earning a look of slight appreciation from the pirate... but the situation was too dire for the moment to last long.
She held the broken piece in a balled fist. "Yes, alright??? IT WAS THE KEY. While you were all over Tiger Lily's LAP like some sort of PET, Celeste and I retrieved THIS KEY to save YOUR ARSE." She couldn't BELIEVE that she had risked getting MULLED for this outcome!
Else put the piece in her corset and made her way to the water's edge. She took a deep breath while she wrung out her long hair and retrieved her boots. "Okay... we go back to camp... and Celeste fixes it. That is the BEST I can think of for the moment. Let's just GET OUT of this pit, shall we?"
As soon as her boots were on she stormed out, not even waiting for the pirate. "And you DAMNED WELL better not lose YOUR piece!" she shouted back at him, not even caring if the beast heard her. She took the arrow head out of the concealed pocket of her leggings as a precaution regardless.
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Post by Captain Killian 'Hook' Jones on Mar 31, 2013 12:34:35 GMT -5
As frightening as her rage was, Hook of course found it entirely attractive on her. He chuckled a little and tucked away his piece into his vest pocket and followed her through the tunnel.
It took awhile, but eventually they walked through the darkness and climbed back up the broken cave. In silence. Else still fuming-
Hook- ever the optimist, looked over at her," At least we found the key hmm? Celeste will most likely be able to forge it back together with her magic, we'll have the gauntlets back and we can continue on our little treasure hunt," Truthfully he wasn't REALLY trying to cheer her up, it was the anger on her face he was after, knowing she wouldn't kill him it really just became an object of amusement to him.
"It could be worse," He shrugged
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Post by Sally Fitch/Clever Else on Mar 31, 2013 16:48:18 GMT -5
"Yes," she replied curtly, leading them to the pit that all the nests had been in, wondering why they hadn't come across the beast yet. Perhaps soaking in the hot spring had served more of a purpose then testing Else's fidelity after all. "We could be STUCK together for the rest of our lives, unable to go a few yards away from each other, no matter HOW much we crave our independence... which is EXACTLY what might be the case if Celeste CAN'T fix the key. So YES, Captain Jones... 'it could be worse'. Thank you for your optimism. Tis a HUGE comfo-"
Else was cute off by a roar. She had her arrow head ready, but then she saw the clearing with all the nests. It seemed to be acting up, roaring upward. Perhaps they could slip around to the opening and get out. She started edging along the dirt wall, glancing back to make sure that Hook was following close behind.
When suddenly the dirt ceiling of the cave was... not torn away, but something was punching rather large holes in it, causing it to crumble. Else shielded her eyes, and when she finally looked back up, dull morning light was glaring back down at them. Something BIG swooped down and snatched up that large beastie by the head. Else could hear the snap of it's neck as it was taken up and away.
A second one of those 'big' things swooped down in, looking around, then snapping it head in the direction of the two. It came at her. Else put her arms up to protect herself, letting out a scream.
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Post by Captain Killian 'Hook' Jones on Mar 31, 2013 20:37:11 GMT -5
Hook quickly pushed her out of the creatures path but in doing so was snapped up in it's talons. The Captain was jerked up and nearly crushed in it's grip as the Bird beat it's wings harder, lifting him higher and higher
Of course the bond of the gauntlets wasn't letting up for anything. Else was quickly pulled up as well. Hook looked down to see The Clever queen dangling and screaming below him
"ELSE! ," He called and extended his hand to her," Grab my hand! Just try!"
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Post by Sally Fitch/Clever Else on Mar 31, 2013 21:33:46 GMT -5
Else reached, but at the rate that the gauntlets were trying to reunite, which was not quick enough, some high trees got to her first. Branches came at her, assaulted and thudded against her body, bruisingly painful. But the gauntlet on her hand was merciless, nearly twisting her arm out of her shoulder socket just to follow it's mate.
Her voice was getting raw from the hysterical screaming and darkness was heavy upon the edges of her vision, despite the morning light in the sky all around them. She looked up once more, reaching for the hand above her...
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Post by Captain Killian 'Hook' Jones on Mar 31, 2013 21:44:43 GMT -5
The bird gave a swoop allowing the chain to jump and Hook to take Elses hand. He gasped, determined not to let go and pulled her in close, holding her tight against his chest.
She was bleeding and bruised badly from what he could tell, she'd need help as soon as they got the chance.
Without warning the Bird dropped them, letting them fall into what Hook could only assume was some sort of nest.
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Post by Sally Fitch/Clever Else on Mar 31, 2013 22:02:07 GMT -5
As soon as he had her arm, which was incredibly painful to her shoulder, she finally allowed her eyes to roll back and passed out.
As they landed abruptly in the nest, the two came apart; Else's body skidding across like a ragdoll, until her back struck the furry girth of the dead beastie.
Her eyes didn't move and she was deathly still.
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Post by Captain Killian 'Hook' Jones on Mar 31, 2013 22:17:20 GMT -5
Hook grunted falling hard and skidding into the thick of the nest.
"Else..." he looked up and saw her lying next to the corpse of another victim of the bird. He slowly stood and stumbled over to her," Else... c'mon Love.."
He fell to the ground beside her, the bird wasn't coming back just yet- or so it appeared so he took the opportunity to take pieces of his clothing and some rum and try to clean a few scratches on her. Hook pulled her into his arms and went to work," C'mon Else... please..."
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Post by Sally Fitch/Clever Else on Apr 1, 2013 5:47:35 GMT -5
She didn't know how much time had passed, but her eyes started to flutter open. Pain erupted in her shoulder and she called out a name. But as her eyes came into focus, she saw that the face before her did not match the name of the man she wanted. She groaned and turned, nearly falling out of Hook's arms, but slicing pain tore through her.
Else cried out as she realized that she couldn't move her arm. The worst thoughts flashed through her mind, until she saw that it was dislocated. She had seen it before... on someone else... and had fixed it herself. She looked up at Hook with pleading dark eyes.
"Please... help me fix it..." She croaked, her voice exhausted, wetness coming to her eyes from the intense pain.
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Post by Captain Killian 'Hook' Jones on Apr 1, 2013 6:51:17 GMT -5
He nodded and took her dead arm, positioning it in a way that was needed for such a procedure,"Count of three.... One, two..... Three"
With that Hook popped her arm back into place, he felt her cringe and he wrapped his arms around her,"It's okay Love... Yu did it, you're okay" he knew she had little energy to run on, he looked around for any sign of the raptor.... Nothing, perhaps f luck was on their side Else would have the chance to rest.
Hook leaned against the corpse of the great beast and pulled Else against his chest,"Just rest now, Love. We'll be okay..."
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Post by Sally Fitch/Clever Else on Apr 1, 2013 10:07:18 GMT -5
Else let out a short cry as he popped the joint back into place, feeling him catch her and ease her to the ground as her legs gave out. She didn't have the strength to let propriety inspire her to pull away and sit up on her own, especially after their little encounter in the hot springs; she gave in to the warmth and comfort of his embrace.
He was her friend after all... wasn't he? After all they had been through. They HAD to be by now. Nothing brings to two people closer together like evil mirrors, horrid gauntlets, and a terrifying ecosystem on an enchanted island... not to mention the countless tiffs and embraces to get through it all.
So with that new found friendship, the Queen was blatently honest. "You have a better chance...if you leave me." She managed in her exhausted state, not even opening her eyes. "Just take my hand with the guantlet... leave me here."
Since she was very young, she had been fighting for survival, in one way or another: SOMETHING in all the worlds was determined to finish the young woman off... and quite frankly, she was getting damned tired of fighting back. What kind of existance is that? ALWAYS fighting SOMETHING.
"If I'm unable to get my happy ending, SOMEONE should... it might as well be you, Captain Jones." She held up a trembling hand, the arrowhead still in it, offering the tool to the pirate to help him with the grisly work.
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Post by Captain Killian 'Hook' Jones on Apr 1, 2013 15:15:32 GMT -5
A few days ago he may have actually considered it, she was pushy, proud, self-righteous and far too smart for him to have appreciated, but now.... He couldn't let her die here.
"Love.... I don't get a happy ending," he said pushing the arrowhead away,"you've got a better chance at it than i will, even now... I'm not leaving without you"
There had to be something he could do, there was something about these gauntlets wasn't there? A reason as to why the tribesmen had put them on Hook and the Princess... It was to transfer energy wasn't it? She had been sick... And Hooks health had been keeping the poor girl alive- then why wasn't it working now?? Perhaps they just needed time...
Hook looked down at his palm, there was a scratch- a scar- that he hadn't noticed... He vaguely remembered the chief of the tribe taking an arrowhead and dragging it across the center of his handy hen placing flat against the jeweled metal of the gauntlet.
Blood, it was blood that was needed. Hook quickly took the knife and slashed at his palm reopening the cut then held the seeping blood over Else's counterpart gauntlet as the Chief had done to him,"Don't worry Love, you'll be alright..."
It occurred to him that he didn't know how to stop the transaction of health between them, he hoped it would stop once Else didn't need healing anymore but he didn't know for sure.
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Post by Sally Fitch/Clever Else on Apr 1, 2013 18:46:27 GMT -5
She didn't know what he was doing, shifting about, disturbing her exhausted rest, but he finally settled down and the two held each other for who knows how long.
The next time Else opened her eyes, she felt better... incredibly better. She brought herself up to an upright position. The pain in her shoulder was GONE, and she felt at her face, expecting scratches and bruises to protest her touch.... but she only felt smooth skin....
And then she looked at Hook. Her hands flew to her mouth to cover her gasp. "Captain? KILLIAN!" She tenderly tried to wake him up, he looked so still... almost lifeless. She glanced down at the gauntlet on her hand, and noticed there was blood on it...and that a bloody arrow head was in his hand. She immediately put it together.
Of COURSE, Celeste had talked about this... it required blood as tribute? Well, she certainly wasn't going let him bear her pain COMPLETELY. She took the sharp tool, ready to do as he had done to help him, but his hand shot up and clutched at her arm to stop her, although his grasp was so weak.
Else's eyes softened with tenderness. "Killian... why would you do that for me... you hardly know me..."
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Post by Captain Killian 'Hook' Jones on Apr 1, 2013 19:11:52 GMT -5
"C'mon Love...." He smiled weakly," You've practically carried me up hill throughout this entire endeavor... it was time I helped you"
He coughed a little but felt his strength return- not fully, but enough to make himself stand and walk if he had too. He sat up and looked about,"....speaking of which now may be a good time to leave, that blasted bird will be back any time-"
A screech filled the air just before the beating of wings started shake the nest. but the bird didn't return... something else was moving in the nest. Across from the pirate and the Queen lie another pile of what he assumed was carcass or perhaps bedding for the nest. But it was starting to move and make noises for itself.
The fluff ruffled and revealed a black beady eye, then a beak and then talons- soon a second near-grown bird emerged and looked them over hungrily. It gave a responding 'caw' to it's parent and spread its' wings. The baby bird was nearly ready to fly but Hook doubted it had left the nest just yet.
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