Dawsoe20
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#1
The sun would reach it’s height in another hour and along the calm beaches of the island plant life itself almost seemed to come alive. With even the gentlest breeze, the leaves of every tree and bush danced around through the air. Birds could be heard, both over sea and land. The harmonic melody of the birds on land was entrancing. With every whistling tune the day seemed to elate the already jovial mood of the Legacy crew. They each made their short preparations and disembarked from the ship.
“That’ll be far enough.” said Sam smiling to his friend just over his shoulder. “We’ve already had this discussion, and I think it would be best for you to wait on the ship with the rest of ‘em.” Sam was definitely looking at Red now.
“What, but---?!” Red exclaimed.
“Look, Ray is staying here, as is Flashy. He definitely ain’t in any condition to still be traveling. And someone who knows the ship well ought to hang around.” Sam could see the frustration building up in Red’s face. “Please buddy, this would---” Sam was cut off.
“Fine…just go,” Red snapped, turning around and heading back to the ship.
“Where did Crazy go to?” Garrinski asked, scouting around the beach.
“Back onboard as well,” Nicholas replied. “Seems he got a bit spooked just before we dropped anchor.” Crazy was indeed still on the ship, but he was now looking at the group steadily making their way up the beach. An ill feeling had come over the timid man and he could only now watch carefully as his companions began to drift further away from the anchored ship.
“Speaking of leaving people behind. Anyone care explaining to me why the boy has come along with us?” Vash snapped at the group. Solo took this comment harshly and his mood dipped into one of blatant sulking. Sam rested a hand on Solo’s shoulder.
“Heh, when you’re dealing with ole Vash it’s better to go deaf. Give up one of ‘em senses like him and he’s much easier to get along with.” Sam joked.
“If you death wasn’t already certain, I swear I’d rush you to it before you could even draw your weapon, swordsman.” seethed Vash. Everyone smiled a bit, as the building tension between Sam and Vash seemingly rested the unease amongst everyone else.
“Did anyone hear that lovely tweeter?” Sam asked, looking around quizzically. His performance finally imparted a small grin to appear on the young man’s face.
“So you heard of this tribal healer awhile ago, huh Vash?” asked Garrinski.
“Like I said, only from other men. But not more than a year ago I heard of this mystic. It was said that half an entire crew of about a hundred sailors were stricken ill by a mysterious disease and happened to port at this very island. Driven mad, many of the sickly crewmen ran off into the jungle to never be seen again. The one who had survived was taken in by an odd native tribe. It was the healer of this tribe that somehow cured the mysterious ailment and allowed the sailor to return to his ship.” Vash explained. He rotated back to the dense jungle and withdrew his scythe from his back. A few short swings was all it took before he began his slow advance into the humid nightmare and bug infested entanglement that stood in front of the wanderers.
The crew trekked on for what seemed like hours. Their course led by Vash seemed indefinite. It wasn’t much longer though that everyone halted in their tracks, watching the blind man’s hand rise into the air, signaling a stop to their progression.
In the dark wilderness around them now, eyes lingered. They wouldn’t be pried from the crewmen and neither would they make an effort to draw in closer. Like faint traces of light shimmering in the perpetual viridian canvas around them, they rested. Everyone became eerily aware of the ghostly beacons and hollow forms that surrounded them.
“How long have you been noticing them?” Garrinski asked, suddenly aware of the situation. Nicholas and Solo looked around with tensed stares, as if they wanted to draw out the moving spirits that silently waded through the surrounding jungle.
“For about the last two miles,” Vash returned, “Thought they were bloody animals! Smelled like them and sounded like them too.”
“I take it they’re not animals of any sort,” Nicholas stoutly stated. He took a moment to tighten the bracings on his gauntlets, making the display look much more intimidating then it needed to be. Still, the peering eyes lingered. Mostly they stayed still, but occasionally they would disappear in the shadowy bush and reappear somewhere else. There were many eyes surrounding the Legacy crew now.
“Men,” Vash said, “They’re communicating.” A few sounds were picked out the group of wandering travelers. Some clicking and grunting noises were heard, obviously not from any creature they’ve encountered before. Vash was right, these men were speaking with one another now and they were positioned around the strange lost wanderers on every side.
“Stay together no matter what,” Garrinski commanded. “We need to continue moving. If we stop here, we’re simply waiting for a confrontation.” With that, Vash directed his attention away from the luminescent pairs of circles watching them and began to step carefully through the jungle once again. The rest of the crew stayed right behind him.
It’s odd, they’re giving us an opening, a way around them, but they continue keeping us boxed in on most sides. Vash thought to himself.
Their pace had all but doubled now. Sam had taken position next to Vash, cutting into the relentless plant life before them. It wasn’t long before they stumbled almost abruptly into an area that resembled something close to that of a clearing. It was most definitely a trail. Narrow enough for little more than a single man, but cleared and easier to navigate then the unyielding jungle. The Legacy crew took to this path and made their way down it with much haste. Vash led the charge, followed by Sam, Solo, Garrinski, and finally Nicholas taking up the rear.
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Topic: The Legacy: Chapter 16- Within the Green
Posted on May 6, 2009 02:24
