Oh well,we can wait...A wee while...
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vive,valeque.
by emily 'first' » Sun Dec 02, 2001 6:02 am
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vive,valeque.
by Kajun » Sun Dec 02, 2001 1:26 pm
quote:
Originally posted by TrueXena:Tara looked at her, startled, then smiled. "That's very sweet, Willow." She settled back, leaning her head on a soft shoulder. "I didn't know if you'd kept it. Why did you? Why didn't you ever use it?"
"Because it's -- well, because you gave it to me." Willow finished in a whisper. "I don't know why I never used it. It just didn't feel right, is all." She closed her hand around the crystal, squeezing tightly. "Because I didn't want to lose something else that was you."
Oh gosh.. just quoting one of many very sweet moments. Thank you.. This is a very good fic.
by Rane » Sun Dec 02, 2001 1:40 pm
anyhoo, great update. i love the w/t moments! i love how they still love and care for each other. sigh...
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TARA- We're forgetting about the troll. Let's pay attention to the troll.
edited all my mispellings.
[This message has been edited by Rane (edited December 02, 2001).]
by RomanceJunky » Sun Dec 02, 2001 4:23 pm
Love the Willow/Tara moments...damn that Amy for her timing!
The Junky...eagerly awaiting the next installment !!!
by Scout » Sun Dec 02, 2001 4:54 pm
As for Amy, it's true that she really isn't evil at heart, but the fact that she tempts Willow makes it hard to like her most times. Although in this fic, it seems she might be redeemable after all. Guess we'll have to wait and see.
by xita » Sun Dec 02, 2001 7:20 pm
by Rainne » Sun Dec 02, 2001 8:13 pm
~~Rainne
by tommo » Sun Dec 02, 2001 10:37 pm
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"Yeah, cheers, thanks a lot." ~ Patsy Stone
by mollyig » Mon Dec 03, 2001 5:02 am
I too loved that scene with the doll's eye crystal. Made me eyes all moist.
Thank you for sharing your talents with us!
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Anya: You think it's sensible for me to go down into that pit of
cotton-top hell, and let them hippity-hop all over my vulnerable flesh?
[This message has been edited by xita (edited March 31, 2002).]
by TrueXena » Mon Dec 03, 2001 10:49 pm
Reflections in Raindrops
Part Seven
It was easy to see the creatures in the light from the torches that hung on the walls every twenty feet or so. They didn't look dangerous. As a matter of fact, they looked rather harmless.
Standing a little taller than the cat-like animal they'd killed earlier, the creatures in front of them were covered in brown fur and had large pointy ears that flopped over at the top. There was no visible sign of danger about them; no claws showing on their paws, and no fangs protruding from their long pointed snouts. Their mouths didn't appear to open like a regular mouth. All that could be seen was a circular hole at the end of the snout through which a long pointed tongue appeared every so often.
Amy looked back at her friends. "I wouldn't call them cute, but at least they're not growling at us."
"Not that I don't agree with you, but in this place. I'm not taking any chances." Willow stated as she unsheathed her sword. "We need to get through that door."
Tara didn't like it. There was something about the creatures that she didn't like at all. She shook her head, thinking that maybe the pressure was getting to her. Her headache was back, and getting worse. She wanted out of there. "I agree with Willow. We need to move them, or something."
"Amy, go shoo them away." Willow smiled at her friend. "Aw, come on, they don't even look like they bite."
Amy shrugged. "Okay. I'm sure they'll move if we just -- hey!" She looked down to see one of them put its snout up against her leg. A sharp pain jabbed her. "Ow! Stop that!" She kicked at it and moved back, but it came forward with her. A thin trail of blood trickled down her leg.
Willow quickly stabbed her sword at the little monster following Amy.
The dark haired witch backed away, frightened. The second creature began to come forward. "Willow, look out!"
Amy sent a bolt flying toward the thing, surprised when it seemed to have no effect.
She immediately grabbed her head and moaned in pain.
Willow quickly turned to find the second little demon headed straight for her. She swung her sword around to ward off the attack, severing its little head in the process.
"Nice swing, Will." Tara put a hand on Amy's shoulder. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I think so. Wow, that was some wicked backlash, though." She stared down at the thing. "Did I miss and not hit it, or what?"
"No, you got it, but I think they're immune." Amy's eyes went wide. "Yeah. There are some creatures that aren't affected by magic, you know."
"I knew that." Amy glowered. "Just didn't think we'd run into any here."
After a moment Willow headed toward the door. Looking it over she noticed it had no knob or handle, and appeared to open from either side. Slowly, with the tip of her sword, she pushed the door open. It gave easily with a minor squeek. After a peek through the opening, Willow quickly let the door close. "Umm, can we talk about this later? Right now would be a good time to run."
Tara looked up sharply. "Why? What's wrong?"
She got her answer as the door swung open towards Willow. Several more brown creatures came through.
Amy screamed and threw another energy bolt. Again, the backlash made her clutch her head. Tara's own headache got worse, but she grabbed Amy's arm and pulled her away from the wall.
"Come on! We have to get out of here!"
Amy hesitated for a second. "But that's the way we need to go!" She looked over to find Willow swinging and stabbing at the creatures, with more coming through the door every moment. She fled, going past Tara, who'd pulled her sword.
One of the creatures got behind Willow and attached itself to the back of her knee. She stumbled, but kept her feet.
Tara brought her sword down on the thing's head, watching it fall away from her friend. Then she was side by side with Willow and they were backing down the corridor, their slashing weapons keeping the creatures at bay.
Willow risked a glance beside her. "Thanks, sweetie." She turned her attention back to the demons. "I think we can get to that hall we were in earlier, and hold them off."
"Maybe. Doesn't do much to get us out of here though." Tara grunted as one of the things leaped at her, connecting with her thigh. Willow stabbed it through the throat even as Tara brought her sword down on its
back.
More of the things came through the door. With one last stab, they were in full flight down the hall, the creatures just a few paces behind them.
They heard Amy calling them, and followed her voice to a small alcove. She was holding a door open for them and telling them to hurry. They had almost reached the door when Tara felt a thud against her legs and she stumbled. She felt something puncture her calf and kicked hard, dislodging the creature and sending it flying several feet away. Then a hand was reaching out and she grabbed it. Amy helped her to her feet and pulled her inside the door as Willow followed them, backing away from their attackers.
As soon as she was through the door, Amy slammed it shut and locked it. The heard some scuffling on the other side, but nothing else.
Tara leaned back against the wall with a sigh. Her head ached, her leg hurt, and her arm was once again throbbing. She wanted to sleep, for days, and not have any dreams.
But that didn't look like it was going to happen anytime soon.
Amy turned and looked at the room they were in. It appeared to be the remains of a grand dining hall, with the remnants of a long wooden table running down the center. Now it was just a pile of splinters, but the massive bases could be seen in three places. Chairs, mostly overturned and broken, littered the room.
She noticed a door at the other end of the hall, and rushed down to make sure it was closed and locked. There was no way she wanted those little creatures in the room with her.
Tara, too, was looking at their new hideout. The walls were covered with fine tapestries and scenes of knights marching off to battle could still be glimpsed in the faded fabric. Silver candle sconces still hung from the walls, several with candles still burning in them. Another glance told Tara that the candles were magical in some way -- they burned without melting. The light they gave off left shadows in the corners of the room.
It was as good a place as any to rest, she guessed.
Willow was leaning against the wall, looking drained. The front of her was spattered in blood and gore, and Tara couldn't tell how much of it was hers. The redhead was still pale, and had one arm across her middle, holding her side where the cat had scratched her. The other arm hung down, her hand still clutched tightly around her sword.
"Will? Are you okay?"
"I don't know. Geesh, can't I rest a little after a big battle without getting the third degree? We've been in plenty of those, big battles I mean. You should know how fatigue works. It's not like I don't remember you breathing pretty hard after a few chases, you know."
Tara's eyes widened for a moment, and she pulled slightly away. "Sorry. Didn't mean to bother you." She waited a second for a response, then sighed and stepped away, following Amy further into the hall. She put a hand to her temple, rubbing it. If only her head didn't hurt so damn much.
A hand touched her shoulder, and Tara turned back to Willow.
"I'm sorry, I don't know why I said that. Forgive me?" Willow said, pleading with her eyes as well. Her voice was softer, and full of pain. "I'm just really hurting, and tired, and we're stuck here, and I don't know how to get us out of here, and all these things keep coming at us, and -- I'm sorry." She finished her babble with a miserable look on her face.
Tara nodded and managed a half smile. "If you feel anything like I do, I'm not surprised you snapped." She winced as her head throbbed. "Come on. Let's find a place to sit and get you cleaned up."
Amy had found a couple of serviceable chairs and turned them upright. She'd unpacked some food and pulled out what was left of Willow's shirt. One piece she'd already folded up and was using it to clean the blood off her own leg.
For some reason, that irritated Tara. It was Willow's shirt, and one of Tara's favorites, and had been sacrificed for Tara, not Amy. But, that was irrational, Tara decided, and she closed her mouth tightly to keep from saying anything about it.
Willow dropped to the floor and leaned against the broken base of the demolished table. She ached everywhere, and her head hurt. There was an itching in her ears, and the smell of the blood on her was making her nauseated.
Tara offered her some bread and cheese, and Willow had to clench her jaw and swallow hard a few times before she shook her head. She accepted some water, swallowing it slowly, watching as Tara cleaned herself off and grabbed a piece of bread.
Amy leaned back in her chair. "Anyone know where we are now?"
Tara spoke up in her best sarcastic tone. "Well, I don't know. Somewhere in the same stupid castle maybe?"
Willow didn't waste time on sarcasm; she went straight to scathing. "Where do you think we are? Stuck in some hell dimension, with nasty demons who want to kill us, all because you wanted the Gremlin of Silmarillion."
"Grimoire of Salarion."
"Whatever." Willow's head pounded and she held a hand to her forehead. "You couldn't get it on your own so you dragged us into it. How nice of you. I sure hope you're happy, 'cause I know I'm just peachy over here."
Amy didn't hesitate to return Willow's venom. "Well, if you had just agreed to help me in the first place, this wouldn't have had to happen. It only went wrong because she twisted your brain." She pointed at Tara and sneered. "Oh, mustn't use too much magic. Oooh, mustn't use your power at all. Shouldn't play with dark side. Hah! She's just afraid, and she's made you into a wimp."
Tara looked from one to the other. Something was happening here that she just didn't like. She could figure it out, if that infernal buzzing in her ears would just stop.
"Both of you, calm down." She knelt by Willow, using the last scrap of clean cloth to try and get some of the gore and blood off the woman's skin. Willow flinched as she ran the cloth over one of the numerous puncture wounds on her legs.
"Stay still," Tara snapped. "I'm trying to clean you off, and it would be a lot easier if you didn't move so much."
"Easy for you to say." Willow pushed Tara's hands off her body. "Stop it. Don't touch me."
For a moment, Tara felt hurt. It quickly turned to anger. "Fine." She dropped the cloth into Willow's lap. "Clean yourself off."
Willow glared and shoved the material aside. "Amy, why don't you go do something useful instead of staring at me?"
Amy sneered at her again, but picked up Tara's sword to clean it. She shook her head several times, and rubbed an ear.
Tara tried to look grateful, but failed. She sat down on the floor, several feet from both her companions, with her knees pulled up under her. She put a hand on either side of her head, wishing for a huge bottle of painkillers.
With a disgusted sigh, Willow pulled the book from her pocket. "Guess I gotta find us again, since you two keep getting us lost."
Amy stood up and slammed the sword down on the floor. "I'm sick of you and that damn book, Willow! All you do is pretend to read it, and try to impress Tara 'cause you can read the words." She balled her hands into fists and took a step toward them. "Well, when I get my hands on MY book, I'm gonna turn you both into... into... something ugly! Something your precious Buffy will want to kill!" She reached up and rubbed her ear, almost scratching at it. "Dammit! Why are my ears itching?" She used both hands to scratch, shaking her head. "Make it stop!" Tara was too busy rubbing her temples to pay any attention to Amy.
Willow stared at the enraged woman for a moment. Her own ears had been itching, as well. She realized there had to be a reason they were all snapping at each other, but she'd never connected it with the physical symptoms.
Or with the creatures from which they'd just run.
"That's it!" She flipped through the book rapidly. "Where are you, where are -- there."
The pain was making Tara's head pulse, and she grimaced. "What's it, Willow?"
"Those little brown thingies. They're called avilingua. Small demons who feed on the blood of their victims. They're immune to magic, but easily killed." She scanned further down the page. "Ah! Their biggest weapon is the power to emit high-pitched sound, far above the range of the human ear, high enough and loud enough to cause irritation of the ear, headaches, and dizziness. Prolonged exposure can cause damage to the nervous system, and eventually impair motor functions." She looked up at Tara. "That's why we're all snapping at each other. They're using ultrasound, and it's making us crazy."
"W-wouldn't that be blocked by the walls and doors?"
Willow shook her head. "Not enough, obviously, or we wouldn't be feeling like this." She fought through the pain in her own head and turned to the map to plot a way out of the room and away from the avilingua. "It says they're afraid to go to the third floor for some reason, so that's where we're headed."
Tara reached over and pulled Amy's hands away from her ears. She'd been rubbing so hard Tara was afraid she'd do damage to them. "Amy, stop it."
"But it hurts!" Amy struggled briefly in Tara's grasp, then went still as she began to cry. "It hurts so much."
Tara nodded. Her own head felt like a balloon about to burst. The pain was making her dizzy.
Willow followed a route on the map with her finger. "Sticking around here is not turning out to be an option, we're just --"
She stopped in mid sentence and looked around the room.
"What?" Tara still had Amy's hands in hers, not just to keep Amy from scratching her ears, but to help stop herself from scratching her own. "Willow, what is it?"
"The map says there's another entrance to the room." She got to her feet, swaying a little unsteadily at first. "Over there, behind the tapestry. Tara, they're in the room with us."
Amy looked around the room in a panic. "No no no no -- "
"Amy." Tara took hold of her by the upper arms and shook her. "Amy, stop it. We need to get out of here, and that means you, too. You can't lose it, Amy. Got it?"
For a moment the dark haired woman just looked at her. Then she nodded slightly, her eyes registering comprehension. Tara let her go and turned to Willow, who had repacked the book in her pocket and drawn her sword.
Willow stood guard while Tara helped Amy pack up what little remained of the supplies. Then Tara drew her own sword, and Amy followed her example.
They were headed for the door when they caught sight of several of the creatures on the other side of the room. The little demons didn't move, but Willow felt her headache increase even as Tara flinched. Amy moaned and started to reach up to her ear. Willow grabbed her hand and pushed it away.
"Tara, Amy, listen to me." She waited until their attention was on her. "We're headed for the main staircase, in the big hall. It's out this door, to the right, and take the next left. Try and stay together, and keep your back against the wall as long as you can." She took a deep breath. "Ready?"
They nodded, and Willow reached for the door handle. With a steady motion she turned it and pushed the door open, stepping quickly into the hall. Seconds later, she was thigh deep in the creatures.
Tara followed her into the hall, staying in front of Amy. Something jumped at her from her left, and she swung at it, decapitating the creature easily.
They weren't hard to kill. There were just so many of them.
Amy followed closely on Tara's heels, her sword gripped tightly in both hands. Her head hurt, and she felt like someone had poured sand in her ears. All she wanted to do was blast these things out of existence. But she remembered the backlash the last time she tried, and decided to just follow Tara and hope they didn't stab each other with their respective swords.
Willow swung madly, moving forward and towards the opposite wall. She could feel Tara off to her left, and knew Amy must be there with her. Using a wide, sweeping stroke, she drove several of the avilinguas out from in front of her. A gap opened up and she took it. Reaching the other wall, she put her back against and turned to keep fighting.
Grabbing hold of Amy's leather jerkin, Tara pulled her backwards and knocked off two avilinguas who had attached themselves to the woman's arms. "Go! Follow Willow!"
Amy leaped towards Willow, sliding under a sword's strike and squeezing next to her against the wall. She hacked down, killing a creature attached to Willow's leg, then striking at another trying to bore into her own.
"Tara! Come on!" Willow leaned forward and reached out a hand toward Tara, who grabbed it. She pulled the blonde through the mob of demons and stepped in front of her. "Down the hall! Move!"
Tara grabbed Amy's arm and tugged. Amy slid between Willow and the wall, and followed Tara as they moved, keeping the wall to their backs. Willow followed more slowly, taking the brunt of the attack.
It was slow progress, and Tara's arms felt like lead, but she finally felt air behind her. She glanced that way, and saw that, for the moment, the hall was empty and they had a clear shot to the bottom of the steps. Grimly, she hacked down two more creatures, then pushed Amy towards the staircase.
"Go!"
"But -- "
"Just go!"
Amy ran.
Tara waited for Willow to inch down to the corner. She could see the exhaustion on the pale face and knew the redhead was close to dropping. Several more hacks and she pulled Willow free of the group. Willow slammed one leg against the wall, dislodging a demon from her calf.
"Tara, get out of here!"
"Not without you."
Willow turned and pushed Tara as hard as she could. "I'll be right behind you. Move!"
Tara ran, glancing back every few steps to make sure Willow was indeed where she said she'd be. Amy was beckoning from the stairs, and she put on a burst of speed, leaping up the first three stairs before she collapsed to one knee.
She was trying to stand and catch her breath when she saw one of the monsters hit Willow in the back of the leg. To her horror, Willow went down.
Amy saw it as well, and immediately rushed back into the fray. She swung as hard as she could, cleaving several smaller avilingua in half. Willow managed to get to her feet, and limped toward the stairs.
Amy took one last swing and then slid an arm around Willow to help her. When they reached the bottom of the steps, they put their backs to the wall and waited to defend themselves.
But there was no attack. The few avilinguas left alive in the room were busy drinking the blood of their dead comrades. Those that weren't engaged in that pursuit were standing and staring at them, but not attacking. Slowly and silently, those watching avilinguas turned around, ignoring their prey as if they had never been.
"Why'd they stop?" Amy managed to get the question out in between gasps for breath.
Willow shrugged and lowered her sword. "Guess they... don't like the stairs." She felt a hand touch her shoulder and she winced.
"Willow? Amy? Come on. Let's get upstairs."
Willow nodded, but didn't move.
Amy slid her sword back in the worn sheath and slid an arm around Willow again. "Let's go. Don't want Tara mad at us, now do we?"
Shaking her head, Willow slowly started up the stairs. She used her sword as a cane, digging it into each step to pull herself up to the next. As soon as she was at the top, she let go of the handle and collapsed into Tara's arms.
Tara was ready, catching and her and lowering her to the ground gently. She found the water skin and got some into Willow. As quickly as she could she washed off some of the grime and gore, examining her love for injuries.
There were too many puncture wounds to count. Tara could tell, even through Willow's jeans, that her legs were filled with them. Most were small pinpricks, but there were several that were larger, up to a quarter inch around. Several were still sluggishly bleeding.
"Oh, Willow."
Green eyes opened and locked onto Tara's blue ones. "I'm okay. I'm just so tired." She flexed her leg and winced. "And my knee hurts. I twisted it when that thing knocked me down."
Tara examined the knee Willow was complaining about, feeling it through the pant leg. "It's swollen." She looked up at Willow's face. "How's your head?"
"Better. My ears are still itching, but not as bad."
"Mine, too." Tara sighed. "I hate to do this, especially since we all need rest, but we should move away from the stairs. The farther we get from those things, the better I'll feel."
Amy nodded. "I agree. Willow, I don't think I could do it now, but if we can find a corner or someplace that feels safe, I'll do a healing spell on you. Until then you can lean on me."
Tara shook her head. "No, I need you to scout ahead, Amy. I'll take care of Willow." She smiled at the dark-haired witch. "But thanks. For the offer, and for going to help her."
"Sure." Amy shrugged. "Can't leave a friend behind."
The three of them were silent for a moment, simply exchanging glances. Then Willow pulled herself to a seated position and offered an arm to both Tara and Amy. "Help me up. I wanna find this book and go home."
Each of them slid an arm under hers and lifted her to her feet. Amy waited until she felt Willow steady herself against Tara, and then she stepped away.
"Okay. Any monsters I should know about up here, Willow?"
A negative head shake. "I can't tell you. The pages on this floor were mostly in that demon language. I couldn't read it. The only thing I know about this place is that there's a test. That's all I could understand."
"A test." Amy grinned. "Well, in school you always did the best on tests, so if it's written, you're our gal."
Willow managed a chuckle, and they headed out of the stairwell and into the corridor.
"Any idea which way?" Amy asked.
"Left. Then turn right at the second door, and we go through that room. Then left again." Willow winced as she put a little too much weight on her knee. "This third floor is like a maze, with the steps to the tower in the middle. Once we get there, it's a straight shot up to the book, I think."
"Good. I want to go home." Amy flinched at her own statement, realizing she was the one who had brought them here in the first place. She waited for a verbal response from the two women behind her.
It never came. When she glanced back, she saw them both looking down, concentrating on the floor.
All of them were feeling much better by the time they reached the first turn. Getting away from the avilingua's ultrasonic sound waves had given their heads time to clear. Amy was glad her ears had stopped itching, and Tara could think without a band of pain around her head. Even Willow felt better, though her knee kept her leaning against Tara for the most part.
They opened the second door slowly, ready to defend themselves. When nothing came charging out at them, Amy felt somewhat encouraged. She stepped into the room and looked around. Once again, the remnants of furniture were in evidence, but little else. There was, however, a fireplace, with a large hearth around it.
"Okay, it's clear."
Tara helped Willow limp into the room. Amy pointed to the hearth, and Tara nodded. She helped Willow over to it, and got her seated, leaning back against the wall with her leg stretched out in front of her.
Tara took a deep breath and sighed. She stretched her muscles a bit, trying to loosen a few knots. "Amy, why don't you see what we have left in the way of food and water. I'm going to look for a piece of wood long enough to make a crutch."
Amy nodded, and sat down on the other end of the hearth with the food bag; Tara wandered over and started kicking pieces off a debris pile. They were both concentrating on their tasks when Willow screamed.
"Tara!"
Tara turned in time to see Willow disappear, falling backwards through an open trap door.
End Part Seven.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
It is MY fault this update is late, please send all hate mail to truexena@columbus.rr.com me, and not Shadow.
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Later dayz,
TrueXena
"I'm so evil, and skanky...and I think I'm kinda gay."
[This message has been edited by TrueXena (edited December 04, 2001).]
by legend » Mon Dec 03, 2001 11:10 pm
This is a wonderfully written fic - you guys should be commended
by Jae » Mon Dec 03, 2001 11:18 pm
by aladdin » Mon Dec 03, 2001 11:29 pm
by TrueXena » Tue Dec 04, 2001 12:04 am
quote:
Originally posted by aladdin:
So, I can go to bed now and have ugly images about Tara and Willow hurting and itching, blood and gore. Thanks a lot!!
Yeppy, that's what we're here for. To give you nice blood and gore images just before bed. And we always aim to please.
Glad you all are enjoying the story. Can't wait to findout what happens next myself. (you'd think the writers would know such things eh?)
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Later dayz,
TrueXena
"I'm so evil, and skanky...and I think I'm kinda gay."
quote:by tommo » Tue Dec 04, 2001 12:25 am
I'm loving this. It's so different. It reminds me in some ways of the Unseen trilogy, in that there's an alternate universe and demonic creatures. Only this is more entertaining.
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"Yeah, cheers, thanks a lot." ~ Patsy Stone
by Scout » Tue Dec 04, 2001 3:10 am
quote:
Originally posted by tommo:
Wow, exciting stuff. But you know, our poor girls are pretty beaten up by now. Is there any chance that Willow will have to remove her jeans to...oh wait, sorry, that's another story. Heh.
Well, she's already lost her vest and her shirt (yes, I'm keeping track of these things!) so anything is possible.
Wonderful story and very exciting. I wonder if 'test gal' will have to save the lot of them. Can't wait to read more!
by mollyig » Tue Dec 04, 2001 3:31 am
Those creatures that emit the ultra sound are like creatures that were in an animated film "Flight of dragons". I think they were called sandmurks or something.
Great stuff. With fic its sometimes hard to get a picture of the demons. But yez are doing a marvellous job describing them!
And again with the cliffhanger!
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Anya: You think it's sensible for me to go down into that pit of
cotton-top hell, and let them hippity-hop all over my vulnerable flesh?
by willow420 » Tue Dec 04, 2001 8:44 am
by TrueXena » Tue Dec 04, 2001 10:21 am
quote:
Originally posted by tommo:
But you know, our poor girls are pretty beaten up by now. Is there any chance that Willow will have to remove her jeans to...oh wait, sorry, that's another story. Heh.
Well, Willow has been trying to get Tara back to the Dorm room since this story began. Ya just never know when the need to take jeans off will help in a situation. (I'll run it by Shadow and see what she thinks)
quote:
Originally posted by Scout:
Well, she's already lost her vest and her shirt (yes, I'm keeping track of these things!) so anything is possible.
I'm keeping track too. Ya gotta love a woman who will strip while running from monsters and gouls eh?
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Later dayz,
TrueXena
"I'm so evil, and skanky...and I think I'm kinda gay."
[This message has been edited by TrueXena (edited December 04, 2001).]
quote:quote:by nika » Tue Dec 04, 2001 10:32 am
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"Eat lot's of applesauce, preferably fed to you by attractive young lesbians." Amber Benson
by Rane » Tue Dec 04, 2001 10:36 am
and i know a comment like that sucks cause it's not constructive at all but i just cant find anything else to say. i'm in awe. it just rocks.
by Kalita » Tue Dec 04, 2001 7:46 pm
I slogged through Unseen hoping for things to get better. I hang on this story because it always does get better...
by TrueXena » Tue Dec 04, 2001 11:05 pm
Reflections in Raindrops
Part Eight
"Willow, no!"
Tara dived back toward the hearth. Amy beat her to the spot, reaching into the opening that Willow had just fallen through.
She had to quickly pull her hand back as the trap door slammed shut. "Damn."
Tara said nothing. She just stared at the space where the door had opened and then closed. Reaching out, she touched the stone as she dropped to her knees.
"Willow?"
There was a vacant look in her eyes that worried Amy. "Tara?"
Tara ignored her completely, tracing the edges of the stone. She started trembling and tears ran down her cheeks. "Willow."
Amy put her hands on the blonde's shoulders. "Tara, we'll find her. We will."
The grieving woman stayed where she was, crouched on the stone hearth, her body tense and shaking. Her face was a mask of disbelief and shock.
Suddenly she was screaming, and pounding on the door. She called out Willow's name, slamming her hands down time and time again.
Amy slipped to her knees and put her arms around the woman, her hands grabbing Tara's wrists in an effort to stop her from hurting herself. For several moments there was a struggle, with Tara trying to wrench herself free, and Amy trying desperately to hang on. Then the energy of her anger faded, and Tara slumped into the shelter of Amy's arms, sobs tearing through her body. She curled up into a ball and wept.
There was nothing Amy could do but hold her.
=====================
Willow fell straight down for several feet until her back slammed into the wall of a tunnel, and then she was rolling and tumbling, unable to stop her gathering momentum.
It was all she could do to wrap her ams around her head to protect it. She felt the back of her head strike hard against something, and she tucked herself in closer, ignoring the pain that shot through her from a dozen injuries.
She didn't know how long she rolled, but eventually she came to a stop on a dirt floor, landing hard on her side. The impact knocked the breath out of her and when she tried to breath, all she inhaled was the dust kicked up by her landing. She coughed for several minutes, and then slowly rolled onto her back, looking straight up.
Into the strangely colored eyes of several Goshti soldiers.
There wasn't even time for her to scream before she passed out.
======================
Tara let Amy rock her for several moments as she cried. Then her blue eyes closed, and re-opened. There were still tears rolling down her face, but she felt better, calmer. It was as if she'd gone to sleep and woken up a different person -- even though she'd only been asleep for a second.
She pulled away from Amy and stared at the trap door again. Then she felt all along it, and along the edge of the hearth where Willow had been sitting. She sat down in the same place her friend had been, and leaned back against the wall.
"What are you doing, Tara?"
"Trying to open the door." She shifted position again and felt along a seam between the stones. "Where is it?"
"Where's what?"
"The lever. Willow must have sprung a lever of some kind to trigger the door. We need to find it."
Amy joined in the search, and they examined every crevice in the hearth with no luck.
"Where is it?" Tara slapped her hand against the stone in irritation. She could see the minute cracks in the stone that outlined the trap door, but couldn't figure out how to trigger it. Finally, as a last resort, she pulled her sword and tried to pry the stones apart. They wouldn't budge.
She was about to slam her sword into the stones when Amy put a hand on her shoulder. Tara turned and looked at the woman, glaring slightly.
"Tara, it's no use. We're not going to get through that."
"Amy, we have to find her."
"We will. But that's not how."
Tara lowered the sword. "Then how?"
Amy took a very deep breath, knowing Tara wasn't going to like what she had to say. "We go get the book."
The blonde stared at her. "The book?"
Amy nodded.
"The book is up." Tara pointed to the ceiling. "Willow went down." She pointed to the floor. "How does going up help us find Willow?"
"Tara, think about it. We can't follow her down the trap, and we don't know where it leads. We have no idea where she is. Besides, if we try to go back downstairs, we get to go back through those avilung guys. You know, the ones that make high-pitched noises to drive us crazy while they use us as pin cushions?" She pointed at several of the red dots that marked Tara's arms, and at the tears in her pants where the creatures had born into her legs. "I don't really like the idea of meeting them again."
"Neither do I. But I'm not leaving Willow."
"I'm not suggesting we do." She touched Tara's arm hesitantly. "The Grimoire would give us the power to find her and bring her to us. It's the best, and the quickest way to find her."
"No." Tara shook her head and took a step towards Amy. "All you want is that damned book. You don't care what happens to Willow."
"That's not fair." Amy balled up her fists and faced Tara head on. "She's my friend. She's been my friend since high school. I care about her."
Tara laughed, but it had no humor in it. She leaned forward slightly, glaring into Amy's eyes.
"Oh, right. I forgot. You care so much that you dragged her into a separate universe and trapped her in a dungeon to play games with muscular ugly guys that want to kill her." They were only inches away from each other. "If that's how you treat your friends, please don't call me one." Tara jerked away from Amy and raised her sword, intent on trying to cut through stone. Willow's absence was like a hole in her gut, and all she could think about was going after her.
"Well, at least I didn't leave her when she needed me." Amy's voice was quiet, but it cut through the air to Tara's ears and heart, freezing her in mid-swing.
Amy dropped her eyes to the floor, embarrassed by what she'd just said. It wasn't true, she knew, Willow had told her that; but she did care about Willow and had watched her friend cry over the blonde woman for several nights. It wasn't Tara's fault that they'd broken up, Willow had made that very clear.
But the pain it had caused still made Amy ache for her friend.
Tara froze at having her deepest fear spoken out loud. Ever so slowly, she lowered her arms. Yes, she had left Willow, and yes, Willow had needed her. She agreed with that; she knew she had walked away at a time
when Willow was very vulnerable. And a part of her had always questioned whether her decision had been the right one.
It had certainly been the right thing for Tara. She had learned much about herself in their time apart, growing more confident in her own power and her own life. She'd come to realize that she could be Tara, without having to be a part of Willow and Tara. While there was a certain void in her life that had been Willow, it hadn't paralyzed her; instead, it had made her stronger.
But had it been right for Willow? For a while she hadn't thought so. Willow had hit rock bottom and Tara always wondered: if she had been there, would the fall have been that bad? She had convinced herself that had she stayed, she could have made a difference.
Willow had also told Tara, though, that she understood, and that it had been the right thing to do. Tara's leaving had only been one rung on the ladder to the bottom. An important step, perhaps, but not the final one.
And if she had stayed, who was to say that there wouldn't have been many more steps until a fatal one was taken?
Tara turned slowly to Amy. "My leaving Willow was the right thing to do, for her and for me. She knows it, I know it -- and I think you know it too."
Amy nodded. "Yeah. I know. I'm sorry I said that." She looked down and took a breath, then gazed back into the angry blue eyes in front of her.
"I do care about her, though. I admit I blew it, I should never have cast that spell, should never have brought us here, and I'm sorry. I don't know what else I can say, Tara. I'm sorry. I care about Willow, and I swear, we'll find her." She waited half a moment. "I swear it."
Everything in Tara was screaming for her to go find Willow. Willow needed her, and here she was arguing with Amy when she should be searching for Willow.
The only problem was, Amy was right. It was suicide to go back through those creatures on the second floor. Not only that, but they had no idea where Willow had ended up. Going off on a general search seemed an unlikely way of saving any of them.
Slowly, Tara nodded. "All right. We go up."
Amy smiled, relieved, and stepped forward. "You won't regret it, Tara, I prom--" She broke off as Tara's sword came up, stopping at her throat.
"We'll go up. And we'll find the book. But I'm telling you, Amy. If anything's happened to Willow, I'll show you what happens when a white witch plays with black magic." She waited, her eyes pinning Amy to the spot. Only when the other woman nodded slightly did she lower the sword.
They didn't look at each other as they gathered their supplies and left the room.
========================
The first thing Willow felt was cold. She was definitely cold, and as she reached down to grab her blanket, she heard a clanking sound and felt something heavy on her wrists. Opening her eyes, she found herself chained to a wall.
She groaned as all the aches and pains of her body seeped back into her consciousness. Her knee had swollen more, and was now pressing tightly against her jean pantleg. Her other wounds stung, especially the claw marks on her side and shoulder.
Using her arms for leverage, she pushed herself up and scooted over to lean against the wall to take stock of the situation.
She'd fallen through some kind of trap, she guessed. To end up somewhere near the first floor with the Goshti, who had, at least, not killed her, but taken her prisoner. Not seeing Tara or Amy anywhere, she gathered that they hadn't followed her down the chute.
Lucky them.
Willow shivered in the cold. She glanced around, she saw that she was chained in a small holding pen with wooden fences. She also noticed for the first time that she was outside the castle walls. It was cold outside, and very grey. Rain came down in sheets, and she was grateful for the wooden roof that kept most of it off of her.
She wondered where Tara and Amy were.
Meat was cooking and the scent of roast beast wafted over to her. Her stomach clenched and then relaxed. Willow wasn't hungry but had to admit the meat smelled very good. She wondered what it was, and hoped it wasn't something cute, like a rabbit or something.
Which made her think of Anya, and Xander, and Buffy, and home. She thought about the big fluffy blanket she'd reached for when she woke, and how, if she was at home, she'd be wrapped up in it -- and maybe Tara would, too. Tears flooded her eyes and she let them come.
One of the Goshti opened a gate in the pen's corner and entered. Willow looked up at him, and did the only thing she could think of.
She babbled.
"Hello there, nice big demon guy. Please don't eat me." He stared at her for a moment. "I'm not at all tasty, nope, not at all. Probably couldn't even pick out enough meat from between your..." She trailed off after getting a good look at the demon. "Tooth?"
The soldier turned away from her and crossed to a trough in the corner of the pen. Willow breathed a sigh of relief.
"Oh. Oh, you're getting water. That's nice. That's a nice non-dangerous thing to do." She watched as he filled a waterskin and stood. "Non-dangerous for me, that is. Not that you'd be dangerous to yourself, but --"
He stared at her for a moment again, and she shut up momentarily. After grunting at her, he closed the gate behind him and she was alone again.
Alone in the pen, that is. Outside of her wooden pen she could see Goshti soldiers going about their chores, whatever they were. She could hear the sounds of swords clashing and guttural voices yelling.
"Battle. Those are noises from battle. Is that good? Tara and Amy fighting their way here to save me? No, maybe not. But maybe it is, and they are in trouble, and I cant help them. This is bad, very bad."
When none of the Goshti reacted to the noises she realized it must be a practice drill.
She twisted in her wrist cuffs and pulled at them, but to no avail. "Well, that won't work." Slumping against the wall again, she took a deep breath, pulling in a lungfull of the cool air. "Ok, stay calm Willow, no need to panic. They -- they hardly even notice I'm here, so that might be a good thing. I could maybe get myself free."
Another tug on the cuffs cut that idea off.
"Gotta get out of here, find Tara, get home." She spoke haltingly, her breathe coming in tiny gasps between phrases. "Home. That's a nice thought. Who'da thunk there was a place worse than Hellmouth City? It boggles the mind I tell ya. Uh-oh, more demons approaching, act casual."
She looked away as a group of Goshti passed her by.
"Wait, I'm being held prisoner, probably gonna be eaten or worse. Shouldn't I be screaming? And kicking? 'Cause then, maybe they wouldn't think I was planning an escape."
Again, Willow paused. "Escape? Right. Who do I think I am, Houdini?"
She was silent for several moments. "They're totally ignoring me. So, okay, I'll talk. Better than doing nothing, even if it really isn't doing anything." A sigh. "I wish Tara was here. Oh, wait, no I don't. That would mean she was chained up, too, and we wouldn't want that. Would we?" For a moment an image flashed in her mind and she grinned, but then shook her head. "Not here. Don't want her chained here. Nope. Not in a prisonery sorta way."
Babbling kept her from being frightened by the surrounding strangeness. "I wish I was where ever she's at. Even if it's worse than here. Cause then at least I wouldn't be here, I'd be there, and I could protect her. I can't protect her now, and it's my fault she's here. All my fault."
After a moment of turning that over in her brain, she realized it was only partially true. Amy had been the one to bring them here, and Tara would have been the first to point that out. Willow could say that it was her fault Amy had been de-ratted in the first place, but Tara would say it was just fate. She'd say it wasn't Willow's fault at all.
"Boy, wish I could believe that." Willow twisted in her chains, trying to find a position that didn't make her knee ache. Not that it would matter, because even if that stopped hurting, she'd be feeling the pain of about a hundred or more stings on her legs from those avilingua demons.
"A hundred? Try a thousand, Willow." She groaned and shifted again.
Noise from outside her wooden pen caused her to raise her head. She saw three Goshti come up to her pen. Nervously she waved at them. "Hi, demon guys."
They opened the gate and one of them stood outside while the other two came in.
"Or maybe . . . you don't wanna be called demons? Is there something else, some other name you prefer, maybe? 'Cause if that was an insult, well, hey, no offense meant, okay? And, um, I could call you something else if you want."
Willow was picked up, and the chains from her wrist cuffs were detached from the wall and hooked behind her back. A collar was placed around her neck, with a long chain leash attached.
When they stepped away from her, she tried to stand on her own. Her knee buckled at the pain and she fell, landing hard on her right side.
The soldier outside the pen yelled, and the other two picked her up under her arms. Once again they set her on her feet, and this time her knee held. The pain was intense though, and as they led her out of the pen, she started crying, tears mixing with the rain as she was instantly soaked.
Shivering, Willow kept her head down, concentrating on just walking. She had no idea where they were going, she just wanted to get there without falling down.
They led her up to a set of steps, and Willow looked up to see how many she'd have to try to negotiate. Her eyes widened as she took in the sight of the huge staircase that reached up to the top of the castle. There must have been over a hundred of them, and they ended at a door built into the tower. It was too far away to see it clearly.
She was prodded in the back, and tried to move her leg to get up the step. Her knee collapsed under her again, and she fell, crying out in pain. The third soldier, who'd stayed outside of her pen, brought a thick leather flogger down on her back, once, twice, and again. Willow was thankful for her leather jerkin, which protected her skin, but did nothing to ease the severity of the blows.
The other two lifted her again. This time they didn't let her go, and Willow started praying with all her might as they half carried and half dragged her up the staircase.
End Part Eight.
------------------
Later dayz,
TrueXena
"I'm so evil, and skanky...and I think I'm kinda gay."
[This message has been edited by TrueXena (edited December 05, 2001).]
by Shaniezak » Wed Dec 05, 2001 1:34 am
*sheepish*
by Roscolux » Wed Dec 05, 2001 1:53 am
by mollyig » Wed Dec 05, 2001 2:36 am
Glad that Tara realises this, and didn't let Amy get to her.
But I'm telling you, Amy. If anything's happened to Willow, I'll show you what happens when a white witch plays with black magic." She waited, her eyes pinning Amy to the spot
And really loving strong, determined Tara!
Willow looked up at him, and did the only thing she could think of. She babbled.
And we're back to good ol' reliable Willow. Before Wrecked the first thing she could think of would've been a spell. Tara'll be so proud of her!
Yet another wonderful instalment. Bravo!
------------------
Anya: You think it's sensible for me to go down into that pit of
cotton-top hell, and let them hippity-hop all over my vulnerable flesh?
by Scout » Wed Dec 05, 2001 2:59 am
Love that line. I wouldn't want to get Tara really mad, that's for sure!
Exciting and intense installment. Can't wait to see what happens next.
by tommo » Wed Dec 05, 2001 7:36 am
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"You evil bitch troll from hell!" ~ Patsy Stone
by nika » Wed Dec 05, 2001 8:25 am
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"Eat lot's of applesauce, preferably fed to you by attractive young lesbians." Amber Benson
by Puff » Wed Dec 05, 2001 11:44 am
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Bloody hell, sodding, limey, shagging, knickers, bollocks...oh God...I'm English
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