Tunnel Run
BY NOW, THE group that had gone on ahead was long out of sight; Charmian hoped that they were far enough through the tunnel to make it out unscathed. The walls and ceiling rumbled as the Mishupishus hurled themselves against them; she held her arms over her head as she, Moon Wolf, and the last few holdouts ran along in the mud, feeling a distinct sense of déjà vu. She hated leaving Little Wind behind--but he hadn't exactly given her much choice.
"I believe the tunnel must be thicker here," Niskigwun panted as they ran. "The blows don't seem to be doing quite as much damage."
"Well, that won't matter too much once some OTHER part of it caves in!" Manabozho retorted. "In fact, it just means we'll be trapped all the MORE!"
"Just keep running!!" Charmian exclaimed, cringing when a harsh blow to the left side made them slide toward the opposite wall. "Maybe we can swim if we end up getting caught--but think about that later!!"
Even if we end up--I can't even think about that--but at least a few of us HAVE to make it--Kabebonikka promised he'd help us if at least a FEW of us made it...!
There was a dull thud against the ceiling of the tunnel, then a faint roaring noise. "Listen! Do you hear that--?" Manabozho said, cupping a hand to his ear. "It sounds like they're swimming away! Maybe they're calling off the attack--?"
Thomas's brow furrowed. "Wh--why would they d-do that--?"
"Simple," Moon Wolf panted. "They're focusing on the weakest part of the tunnel--the part we left behind."
Charmian gasped and nearly halted, but he grabbed hold of her arm to yank her forward. "Little Wind--!" she exclaimed, just as a faraway BOOM came from some distance behind them, and then a rushing roar that she knew must be water pouring into the tunnel. Moon Wolf stumbled to a halt, and so did everyone else, too surprised to keep moving. They turned to look back with wide eyes as the roaring rushing noise grew louder and closer, then started to regain their senses. Charmian winced when Moon Wolf's fingers dug into her wrist, then realized that it wasn't him but Thomas holding her now; she saw the look of panic in his eyes as they all turned away from the noise.
"KEEP RUNNING!" Moon Wolf shouted, and they bolted, feet slipping every which way in the mud. Manabozho threw up one hand and directed a blast of wind behind them, but Charmian could tell that it would do little to deflect the flood; as it came bearing down on them she squinched her eyes shut and sucked in a great breath, grasping Thomas's arm in return and hoping that she would at least be able to hold on as soon as they were swept away. She had just enough time to feel the panic herself before the cold rush of water buffeted against her back, sweeping her off her feet; she collided with somebody, and lost her grip on Thomas's arm. Without thinking she opened her mouth to cry out, feeling bubbles zooming up past her face, and sucked in a mouthful of water before another roaring noise came to her ears, and just like that she fell to the ground with a painful thud, mud and water splattering against her. She coughed, and spat water--then took in a gasp of air.
Air--?
She blinked her eyes open and had to lift a hand to rake the sopping hair from them, raising her head. All around her she could see the others, also lying in the tunnel, thoroughly soaked and mussed--but very much alive. She couldn't quite understand what she was looking at. Water still rushed past them, but it was only a few inches deep, and the tunnel itself seemed to be intact. Even as she watched, the flow of water was growing even weaker.
She spat a few more times and grimaced, wiping mud from her clothes. "Wh...what...?" she managed to get out, when Moon Wolf's and the others' attention flickered toward the end of the tunnel they'd just vacated, and she turned her head to look as well.
Water was still pouring even stronger from here, but it began diminishing until just a sheet of it spilled out across the floor, sweeping mud and bits of seaweed with it. Squelching noises were coming from far off, getting closer; Moon Wolf lifted his hand and his fingers started glowing just as a faint glow appeared in the tunnel. Charmian's hair would have prickled had she not been so soaked; as it was, she started struggling to get to her feet, having to lean against the mucky wall just to do so. They stood and stared at the glow as it approached, the squelching noises accompanying it.
When the glow resolved itself into a definite shape, Charmian frowned and lifted her own hand. Her fire lit up the tunnel better than Moon Wolf's, and she at last saw a figure coming their way. It took her a moment or two to realize that it was Little Wind. Her eyes widened on seeing his state. He was thoroughly sopping from head to foot, his robes muddied and his hair and feathers limp, all of his scrolls and numerous belongings dripping, and the look on his face was such that she almost expected him to be dead. Yet he was holding his hand aloft, and just above his fingers hovered the little fireball, which flickered as he drew closer.
Charmian let out her breath and felt her tensed aching muscles start to relax. Moon Wolf stood down a little, though he didn't call off his own fire; they just stood and watched the younger wabano come squelching up to them, his eyes dull and every inch of him looking just about ready to keel over where he stood. He halted and swayed a little, but the fireball flared and he blinked and shook his head a bit, managing to steady himself.
There was an awkward silence. "What happened...?" Charmian at last got out, not quite able to believe that she was even looking at him.
Little Wind blinked a few more times, then shakily lifted his free hand and wiped the water from his eyes. "I stopped it," he murmured in a faint voice.
Charmian's brow furrowed. Niskigwun and Manabozho pushed past her and went jogging away up the tunnel. The silence resumed until they came jogging back, and nearly skidded to a halt, panting and confused looking.
"There...is nothing there," Niskigwun said, perplexed.
Manabozho had to lean on his knees. "A lot of water...all over the floor...but nothing else! The wall and ceiling are all hard now...as if they've been..."
"Heated--?" Charmian looked at Little Wind. "Your manitou." She again noticed how it flickered over his hand, and when he at last lowered this, it moved to float over his shoulder. "You used its power to seal the tunnel and make it stronger...?"
"What about the Lynxes?" Moon Wolf demanded.
"I only saw one," Little Wind said, still in the same dazed voice. "The fire hurt its eyes and it pulled its head back out..."
A BOOM sounded against the ceiling, and they all gasped and jerked, fighting to keep their balance. Everyone glanced upward. "Well--I think it's back," Charmian said nervously. "Or at least, the OTHER ones are--"
Charmian--? Is that you down there--?
The thought apparently flitted through everyone's mind, as their eyes all went wide with surprise. Charmian put a hand to her head. "X'aaru--?" she cried. "I completely forgot about you--!"
The river here finally came aboveground so I swam down in it to take a look, the demon replied. There are two big Lynxes up here! Mishupishu can sense others in the other tunnels, but we can't reach them from here.
Charmian bit her lip, then looked back at Moon Wolf and Little Wind. "Do you guys think you can try that trick again?" she asked. "At least until we get close enough to land to make it--?"
Moon Wolf gave his hand a skeptical look. "I could try," he said doubtfully, while Little Wind just let out a breath and looked ready to pass out. Charmian turned back to the ceiling as if she could see X'aaru there.
"X--we'll be running westward through the tunnel. Just focus on the Lynxes you can get to and try to distract them until we get close enough to land--okay?"
All right, X'aaru said. We'll try to draw them away. Good luck!
You too, Charmian thought, sensing the demon pulling away. "Come on," she urged the others, and they started jogging. Charmian held out her hand toward the righthand wall. "I'll take this side--you guys take the rest. Thomas, Manabozho, Niskigwun, if one of them breaks through, you try going for its eyes."
She splayed her fingers and sent out a blast of fire at the wall. At first all that it did was make a mess, but when she focused on it, she saw the moisture evaporating and the slick mud hardening before her eyes. Moon Wolf started to aim at the left wall, then noticed the dazed look on Little Wind's face and nudged him that way instead. "I'll take the ceiling," he muttered, and held his hand up over his head. Blue fire licked the roof above them and Charmian and Thomas winced a bit, ducking their heads. Thomas and Niskigwun darted looks ahead and at the ceiling and walls while Manabozho trotted backwards, keeping his eye on the tunnel behind them. Little Wind did nothing until Charmian nudged him again and he shook his head abruptly, blinking.
"Come on," she said again, and gestured at his fireball. "Help us out."
He stared at her for a moment, as if still rather out of it, before holding up his hand. The fireball floated to rest over his fingers and shot out its own beam of light toward the left wall, which had been the least battered so far. Charmian sighed to herself and focused again on the right wall, and they continued making their way along the murky tunnel.
There are four of them, Mishupishu thought at the demon as they floated through the river. He'd entered it from below, and X'aaru had flown down into it from above, as soon as they'd sensed other Lynxes not too far away, also heading west; and sure enough, they found the mainlander and others in that same location. They were still a good distance to the south, but could easily see the two giant Lynxes swimming back and forth, occasionally striking their tails against the bottom of the river. Below them, they could sense two more drifting through yet more tunnels.
X'aaru turned his head to give Mishupishu an anxious look. Do you think we can take them on our own...?
I'm not sure, Mishupishu thought, biting his lip. But we have to at least try! Right--?
Right! X'aaru agreed with a nod. So...do we...fight them...?
Goodness, no!! Mishupishu exclaimed, eyes widening. I say we distract them--draw them away! Do you agree--?
Of course! the demon replied with evident relief, bobbing his head. You draw them away from the tunnel and I'll try diverting their attention the other way!
The Lynx nodded and they parted. Mishupishu started swimming in circles far over the two visible Lynxes; after a few moments they appeared to notice him, and one began drifting upward while the other continued along the ground. X'aaru darted into view then, and as soon as the other Lynx saw him it pulled away from the riverbottom as well. Mishupishu swam up toward the demon, darting him a nervous glance as he came.
I think we might have to fight them off after all--at least until the others get to land! I'm guessing they were told to keep an eye on the tunnel--we'll have to REALLY distract them to keep them away from it!
I guess we have to, then, X'aaru agreed reluctantly.
Mishupishu paused thoughtfully for just a second, then his eyes lit up. I have a new idea. I'll be the bait and let them come after me--while you keep an eye on the tunnel! I'm betting they have no idea in there how far they have to go. You seem to talk to them better. Do you think that might work--?
But what about you? X'aaru asked. Those Lynxes are a lot bigger than you are, and there are two of them!
Don't worry! Mishupishu replied. I bet I can move faster than they can--and I'm used to swimming away! He blushed. In the best possible sense, of course!
Of course! X'aaru agreed, and turned to swim back toward the tunnel. Good luck and be careful!
Mishupishu watched him leave, then turned his head to anxiously watch the other two Lynxes as they approached. They were almost twice as long as he was, and their eyes glittered as they opened their mouths to show all of their equally glittering teeth. He swallowed nervously before turning and darting away along the river. The other Lynxes followed.
If there was one thing to be said about Mishupishus, it was that they weren't always the brightest creatures around, which was what Mishupishu himself was counting on as he swam further away from the tunnel. It looked as if these two were likely to fall for the trick, though he knew that it was better to be safe than sorry--if they did realize that they'd been had, they would just gang up on him all the more. He wasn't quite ready to handle that just yet.
He made sure to swim in numerous circles and dart between rocks and drowned logs as often as he could, sometimes doubling back, sometimes sliding halfway through the muck on the bottom of the river, sometimes going up almost to the surface; another thing to be said about Underwater Lynxes was that they liked playing games, and that could work to his advantage for once. He didn't swim quite as quickly as he knew he was able, as, if he got far enough away, they would likely just turn and head back to the tunnel; whereas if he kept within sight of them they would follow him longer. He knew that the little demon wouldn't stand a chance against two huge Lynxes. He had to keep them distracted for as long as he could.
Hey, small fry, one of them called out, and its voice made him shiver. Don't we remember you?
I believe we do, the other one jeered. It's that little fish who got his tail nipped so often! What are you doing way out here, little fish?
Did you swim too far from your egg? added the first.
If you come back and face us, small fry, maybe we'll go easy on you!
That's right! We'll bite your head off before we start eating your tail!
The rasping bubbling sounds of their laughter came from behind him, and he shivered again, tail fanning from left to right. He wanted nothing more than to swim off as fast as he could, and nearly did, before remembering the little demon and the others in the tunnel. They'd been so nice to him and hadn't even left him behind when he'd been hurt. He gnawed on his lip but made himself slow down just long enough for the other two to start to catch up, then put on a fresh burst of speed, and kept luring them further and further through the river.
Winter Born wouldn't stop turning to look behind them, and so Singing Cedars at last picked her up and started carrying her bodily down the tunnel. She continued staring mutely over his shoulder as he jogged, everyone's feet making squishing noises in the mud.
"I don't like that sound that came from back there," he muttered, grimacing and sweeping a hand across his eyes.
Stick-In-The-Dirt wouldn't stop shaking his rattle, and the noise of it kept pace with their running. "I don't think we should have left them behind..." he said, gnawing on his lip with an anxious look. A dull boom shook the tunnel, and everyone jumped, glancing to the left. Now Kenu halted, and Francois had to stoop to scoop him up just to keep them going. The little Animiki struggled a bit, then pointed at the wall, eyes wide.
"Mishupishus! I can FEEL them! They're following us!"
Stick-In-The-Dirt whimpered and started rattling even harder. "It's not quite as wet down here," Francois said, glancing at the walls and floor. "I think the tunnel might be a bit sturdier--but that won't hold them out for long."
"Ooohhh!" Kenu's face dissolved in misery. "I DO wish I could be out there again FIGHTING them...!"
"You're probably the only one STUPID enough to wish for something like that," Augwak grumbled, shaking mud from his hands and feet as he ambled along.
"I just KNOW I could take them on if I could find a way out of this hideous tunnel," Kenu moaned, when a dull crashing, splashing noise came from far behind them, and without thinking everybody skidded to a messy stop, heads whirling around to stare back up the tunnel. Nothing but darkness met their eyes at first, but after a moment they could see faint flickering, as if something had caught on fire.
Marten said what they all were thinking. "What would catch fire down underwater--?"
There was a brief pause. Then Singing Cedars gasped when Winter Born shoved at him and dropped to the ground with a splosh. She scrambled to her feet and went running before he could make a grab at her, and when he did try, he fell on his knees and elbows, sputtering in surprise.
"Winter Born!" Black Elk Horn barked, and shoved several of the others aside to race after her. Singing Cedars stupidly watched him pass, Stick-In-The-Dirt stooping to grasp his arm and help him up.
"What was that--?" the medicine man asked as they stood and wiped mud from themselves. There were more flashes and noises coming from the tunnel by now, and the distant lights grew bright enough that they could see Black Elk Horn catch up with his daughter and grab hold of her. She started kicking and yelling Charmian's name; Singing Cedars tensed, then took a step back. Stick-In-The-Dirt looked at him.
"What is it?" he asked, brow furrowing.
Singing Cedars turned to look back at him. "You don't see it--?" He glanced at Winter Born, seeming confused. "Some sort of glow--?"
"Charmian--!" Winter Born shouted, just as more splashing noises became audible, and the flickering resolved itself into three bobbing lights. Black Elk Horn stood up, Winter Born now fallen still in his arms, and they watched the lights coming closer. Stick-In-The-Dirt squinted, then blinked.
"It's--it's them!" he exclaimed, and started going toward them, only to fall down as soon as the entire tunnel shuddered and a gout of water shot through the wall between them. Charmian--her hand held out with fire shooting from it--managed to look startled before she was lost from view; Winter Born yelled as Black Elk Horn ducked his head and ran back to join the first group. Everyone backed away as soon as a huge muzzle protruded into the hole, a giant forked tongue lashing into the tunnel and an awful rasping hiss escaping the Underwater Lynx's jaws.
Winter Born screamed. The Lynx was so big that it could peer into the tunnel with only one eye, which turned toward the second group. Charmian yelled now and hurled a fireball at it in panic, Moon Wolf and Little Wind doing the same; the Lynx roared and yanked its head loose, great hunks of mud and earth collapsing and water from the adjacent tunnel splashing in through the gaping hole that it left. Charmian and the others frantically started shooting fire at the opening, but there wasn't enough mud left there to harden, and the tunnel began quaking again.
Winter Born lifted her head and met Charmian's eyes across the gush of water. "Charmian--!"
Charmian blinked at her, as if surprised to see her there, then waved her arms, a sweeping gesture. "Go on! We'll try sealing it up--but SOMEBODY'S got to make it west--!!"
Her words were cut off as soon as something else crashed through the already yawning hole, and this time more than one of them screamed when the Lynx broke through and blocked off the tunnel, separating them from each other.
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