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The Dreaded Channybear strikes again
Tink woke up in the silence of the cave. About midnight she thought. Time is transform and get to work. There were lots of creatures that needed help. She heard a snuffle and snort from the bed a looked down smiling. It was sure cute that Saber changed to his cat form when he fell unconscious.
Tink whirled softly chanting under her breath.
Soft as a sigh and light as air
I fly and soar without a care
All change is good as I can see
I let my inner fairy free.
In a few whirls of air she began to shrink and float. She stifled a delighted laugh.
Quick as lightning in one fluid gesture a velvet paw pinned her. The claws caged her and she heard him growl.
"Let me me go at once or I. I will." Her small voice was angry. She shook a tiny fist at him.
"You will what?" "Throw pixie dust at me. I startled you so you can't grow smaller. I have you trapped so you can not increase in size until I release you." he said soft softly. His fangs gleamed in the dim light.
"We discussed this. I wake in the night and you are gone. Helping the jungle creatures you tell me. More likely searching for a cursed wolf."
"Jealous is that it she taunted lightly. So you are going to stand there all night pinning me down with your paw?"
"Long enough. Change back so we can talk about this.
"Alright then."
He raised his paw.
He released her and watched as she grew larger. Long blond hair held back by a leather thong. Gray blue eyes narrowed and glared into his soft brown ones.
Smash, crack boom. The cave actually shook a slightly a bright red glare filled the mouth of the cave. Differences forgotten their startled eyes met.
They froze a moment then acted. Tink grabbed weapons.
"What in Hades is that?"
"On my back now!"
She leapt on and clung to his fur. Not a moment to soon he sprang forward through the opening and raced smoothly down the beach in great leaps. Steel muscles flowed beneath velvet fur. He headed for Warrior Beach. The passage blurred trees and bushes he traveled so fast.
A hundred yards away he stopped the headlong race. His sides were heaving slightly. Tink leapt off his back and watched fascinated. His giant cat form seemed to bubble and shift as he changed from a huge golden brown cat to a muscular handsome man.
"How do you do that" she said in awe? The reason for their frantic run seemed momemtarily forgotten.
"How do you become six inches tall and where are your wings? I just do it"
Yells and shouts startled them into action again.
"Come on." He relieved her of the larger of the spears.
They arrived at the scene of the explosion. A large crowd was milling around the blasted council chambers. Appalled they stared at the blasted one and only government building. Fractured sandstone blocks littered the ground along with stripped wood and broken plaster.
"I wonder what happened?. That building took us months to build?"
"Saber: There is Gradius. May be he will know."
Tink grabbed his arm and pointed to a knot of people.
"Yes Dodger's right hand man, he would know."
They walked towards the group.
Tink waved. "General what has happened?"
He nodded at them.
"Saber, Tink, as far as we know a group of criminals from exile island managed to get through our defences. They blew up the council chambers. The worst thing of all they took Desire with them. They kidnapped her. They seem to possess some powerful magic they did not have before."
Tink and Saber were stunned. Desire gone maybe never to be seen again. Unthinkable!
Dodger was coming down the beach towards them. A murmur and muttering rose from the people.
Dodger looked terrible. His eyes were so sad and angry at the same time. He looked so filled with hurt and rage at recent events.
His voice boomed as he entered the circle.
"Everyone be quiet and I mean NOW."
Silence filled the air but it was not soft and quiet silence. The air seemed to throb with tension.
"Did anyone witness what happened?" Danica stepped forward.
"Dodger I think they slipped ashore using an underwater craft. I saw lights on the water and headed here to check what was happening.
It was a few minutes and then I heard a boom and started running. Desire was screaming your name Dodger."
Dodger's face tightened.
"They will die for this!"
There was a small commotion.
"What the Heck is going on?"
DH struggled into the circle. He was half drunk and had obviously indulged to much in coconut wine.
"Snuggles and I were having fun and then she said the Earth moved. And I thought I was doing great. Then it moved again." His voice trailed off and he backed away mumbling. "Just trying to help."
Dodger glared at DH and then said
"Well what do we do now?"
Rainy and Strongwood appeared on the scene. Her mere appearance seemed to make people melt out of her way. They both seemed magical and set apart because of their ability to walk in the realm of the spirits.
"Dodger I greatly fear this is a feint by those outcasts who smolder with rage and resentment at being sent away from our fair island. They believe you will send all our forces against them in a frontal assault while leaving the island open to attack. While they rape our women and pillage our possessions and take this place for their own people."
Dodger nodded. "I feared that would be the case as well. What do you suggest Rainy and Strongwood?'
Strongwood spoke softly his voice like the whispering wind in trees.
"There is only one thing to do Dodger. You will have to hold the fort here. Our quick scrying into the mystical realm points to a rescue by a small select magical team. Magic exist on both sides as that we can not deny."
"I wondered about that?"
Rainy then spoke. "Dodger I do not believe that this is our world. I mean the one we started in before we were shipwrecked here. All of us that were shipwrecked here went through a gateway or vortex pulled through to a different reality. You must have heard of the Bermuda Triangle? Here some of us have real magic and we pass it on to our children. Look at Ava's daughter." Her voice dropped low as even she did not say that dreaded name out loud.
It echoed in peoples' minds with a whisper of foreboding Evilina Victoria. They shuddered suppressing thought about her. There was enough trouble to cope with already.
Dodger paced impatiently . "What should we do then?"
Strongwood's voice echoed stronger and surer.
"There is one path to victory. Rainy and I will take Saber and Tink with us. Marshal our forces into four groups to protect all sides of our home."
Dodger's voice was stronger and surer too. His leadership ability and great aura of command descended on him like a cloak.
"Are you two in charge of the rescue mission? Admiral Digby to the east near Ancient village. Take who and what you need."
A burly battle scarred man nodded and bowed slightly.
"Gradius west to Crystal Springs. Cerberus takes the North watch. Mzk can take the south. All of you divide our forces and prepare to battle for our very lives."
Gradius headed west and protect the interior and that section of the island at Crystal Springs. The whole beach erupted like a kicked over termite mound.
Rainy said to Dodger "We are shamen first. Saber will be our leader."
"Very well." They were speaking in whispered tones.
"Tink I know you two are not getting along well. He is in charge though and must be obeyed."
Tink looked startled.
"Of course Dodger. We will rescue her don't worry. She has her own magic. No man can harm her."
Tink thought of Sabers poem.
Lovely magic Desire
Fills all men with fire.
She enflames mens"senses
and shatters their defences.
Rainy said abruptly to Tink. "Do you have what you need there is little time?"
"Yes" said Tink
They hurried after Rainy toward the beach where the boats were kept. Strongwood moved towards a small outrigger. "It is enchanted to carry us quickly and very the boat is very hard to see despite the moonlight" Strongwood said quietly.
"Wow that is cool!" Tink was impressed.
Woody deferred to Saber. "Sabes is there any where special we should land on Exile Island?"
"As close to any fortifications we see. Reconaissance said there was a castle. Desire will be taken there. I am sure."
"Very good" Strongwood began to chant while everyone settled for the ride. The craft seemed to glide silently under its own power.
Tink looked in the water and gasped.
"Look Kitty no reflection."
Sure enough the boat was not reflected in the water.
Rainy said "I told you we can not be seen or heard until we leave the boat. We are in a pocket universe."
"You two do the same thing" said Rainy.
"We do what" exclaimed Saber?
"You enfold a pocket universe to hold the self you are not using. We do it in a deliberate fashion. For you both it is natural like breathing." said Rainy
"Anyway we are almost there." said Strongwood pointing at a looming dark land mass. "I sense you better change Saber into your giant cat self. Tink you can stay as you are for now."
"Okay but no spear then because no hands." He began too bubble and shift again. In minutes the man was gone and in their presence was a huge magnificent cat who quickly moved to the middle in fear of tipping the boat.
They slipped ashore and left the boat. It seemed like such a bleak place. The stonework was rough and the vegetation was twisted and mangled.
As they moved forward it came alive. Evil cruel looking thorns appeared forming a formidable defence.
Even Saber backed away.
"Strongwood can you use your plant magic?"
"I can but must then stay behind to keep them calm."
He made several gestures to calm the sinister vegetation.
The trees and vines parted reluctantly. Strongwood cleared the path to the steps.
He handed Tink a bottle. "This is oil of discernment. Sprinkle a little as you go or you may not find your way out."
"I will Strongwood. See you soon."
"Hurry please!" Rainy gestured upward. "I sense there is little time. They hurried up the stone staircase. Tink sprinkled drops of oil as they went.
There seemed to be no one to see them and stop them but as Tink looked behind them the walls seemed to block the path they had come.
"Many have left to assault our home but I sense Desire is here in the heart of this nest of vipers."
"I can smell her enticing perfume" said Saber.
"This way I think." He headed down a hallway with them on either side.
A door clicked ahead and all of a sudden a furious feline scream rendered the air. Suddenly three massive jaguars were in the very hall with them.
Saber roared and threw himself at them bowling over two! A third past him and Tink cast her spear with deadly accuracy. It pierced the heart of the jaguar. Its blood whistled through the hole in its chest as its life seeped away. Meanwhile Saber had slashed the throat of one while his teeth had sank into the neck of the second.
"Lets go." He roared. "We must be close now."
"Saber you are limping said Rainy."
"No time."
They followed him and even three legged and limping they could barely keep up to him in the run through the keep.
They entered into a hall with several doors. "This one!" he said.
"They burst through a crude wooden door that Rainy made open by magic into a sinister nightmare laboratory. There was blood on the floor. Desire seeming dead was in a cage with golden bars no bigger then her body. It hung from the ceiling on a golden chain. She seemed hurt too.
"Des! Oh please be alright." cried Tink.
Des opened her eyes. "Tink, Rainy, Sabor! Am I dreaming? Do not come closer. This cage is magic. It will shrink to half the size and crush me."
"I think I can open it Des" said Rainy except I can't get close enough to place these ingredients inside the lock. Why did they take you Des?"
"It was the evil Channybear who my husband sent here. He wants me to marry him to get back at Dodger for sending him into exile here. He said his forces would swarm our island and kill all that did not bow to them."
"When we left they were all fine" said Rainy soothingly.
"Tink this is up to you. Shrink down and fly in the key hole then drop this potion."
"I can't Rainy! It is too small!"
"You can Tink. You are the only one who can do it."
"I will try." Tink whirled and chanted. She got smaller and smaller pushing her size down with all her will.
Rainy handed her a tiny bag almost as small as her. A little more now. Tink pushed her powers to the limits. Her little golden wings beat as frantically as a hummingbirds.
"Go Tink. Fly in and drop it. The door will openin seconds. Then fly out. It wont stop you because you are magic too."
Tink flew for the keyhole. Inside it was a golden cave of light. She dropped the potion and flew out to fall exhausted through the air toward the floor. "No" Saber roared. He threw him self down to break her fall. She blacked out.
Tink awoke moments later on his back. She was slowly resuming her full size.
Des was walking beside Rainy who was supporting her with one arm.
"What happened?"
"The cage opened of course. Saber caught you before you could fall."
"Why did I get so exhausted?"
"Because you you pushed your powers to the extreme edge of your limits."
Tink blinked as the oil path led them straight through walls towards their escape.
"Des said Channybear went with the invasion force but I fear for the safety of our lovely island."
They reached the place where Strongwood held the plants at bay. His powers over them seemed weaker. The tunnel to their boat was very narrow but they made it through."
They were all battered and tired. Rainy was tending to their wounds. She poured them a potion to restore their vitality. Saber changed back to his human self. He smiled weakly at Tink. She smiled back and hugged him.
The boat traveled on. Suddenly a faint throbbing filled the air. Drums were what the sounds were like. Wait it was the sound of victory drums!
"We won!" Tink shouted. They were all smiling and laughing clapping hands on shoulders and hugging. They reached the harbour and Dodger leapt aboard to lift Des and hug her to him like he would never let her go again.
"Silence!" Dodger roared. "I declare this date forever as our new Thanksgiving. We have conquered our enemies and cast them into the ocean to perish in boats disabled to barely float. I doubt they will trouble us again.
I declare a feast as soon as our wounded are taken care of. It will be in honor of our heroes in four hours time."
Tink and Sabor slipped away towards their cave. He took her hand. "I am sorry Boo."
"I am too Kitty. It seems so silly now. I could have lost you so easily. There is no one else hon. There never will be." She slipped ahead of him.
"But you know the best part of fighting?"
"Whats that?"
"Making up" She broke into a run.
"Unless you are too tired." She laughed.
"Never to tired for that!"
He followed her.