Rain and Ashes, Part II

[Castigo]

Castigo struggled valiantly against Pagan's jaws, determined not to let a drop of the serum escape from them. Her body shook like that of a rag doll. At several points her feet left the ground. But she didn't let go.

Not until the beast, with a mighty, backward thrust of his head, sent her flying over him. Just barely landing on her feet behind the convulsing giant, she threw her wait forward to avoid staggering backward into him. She tripped over her own feet and fell on hands and knees into a pile of ash. The soot penetrated her nostrils and mouth, throwing her into a fit of coughing.

Quickly she scrambled to her feet and laid her gaze upon the screeching chimera. She'd never seen anyone in such agony. Thanking the Powers when his flesh finally ceased its bending, she rushed over to his side, apparently unfazed by his nudity.

"I'm so sorry about this! It had to be done!"

His only response was a muffled request for his clothing. I guess he probably would like those back. Eager to placate him after what she had just put him through, her lanky legs rushed her over and into the tunnel. Once inside, her bare feet were cushioned by the shredded, scorched remains of her tights and tunic. Her glowing eyes searched the entrance for a few moments before realizing something horrible, which also happened to be something quite obvious. If her clothes were burned up, then....

"Pagan!," she called tentatively from the entrance, "I... I don't think your clothes survived... I might have - accidentally - incinerated them...."

Her gray eyes, brimming with caution, were trained on him as she climbed back out.

"But, I'm sure it'll be fine! You can travel as a beast for a while until I can replace them for you!"

[Pagan]

Pagan groaned. His head had begun to throb. His body felt like led. His mouth was now filled with ashes. He had just been attacked by a shadow beast. He had just been caught between human and beast in some crazy transformation mishap caused by phoenix tears. He was stuck in a field of soot with a twenty year old stuck in a ten year old's body. And his clothes were the equivalent of mush. Could this day really get any better?

He laid there for a long minute, not even acknowledging Castigo's return. The cool breeze that eased across the ashy horizon caused his wet hair to sway slightly. He vaguely thought that he should thank the girl for helping him, but opening his mouth would invite more soot in, and he lacked the strength to lift his head.

The ground had never felt more comfortable. He could not even will his eyes to open. No, he should not open them. In fact, he should take a nice, long nap so that he could awake from this horrendous dream. He would open his eyes to find that he was roaming through a forest without a care in the world. He would have clothes to put on when he changed shape. And this horrible head ache would be gone.

Finally, he eased a lone eye open and looked at Castigo. She looked cautious. She was probably scared of his reaction to her having ignited his clothes. Well, it was not really her fault. She was just saving their lives. He lifted his head just long enough to mumble, "It's alright." He really did not mind traveling as a beast. It was more the fact that he did not have the strength to change into a beast that was bothering him.

He closed his one open eye and took a deep breath. That nap had sounded so wonderful.

He hoisted himself up on to his hands and knees, and the change took place more quickly than usual. It seemed as though it happened in just the blink of an eye. But as soon as he was a jaguar, he laid back on the ground. His muscles really needed rest. He looked over at Castigo, his eyes willing her to understand that he just wanted to lay there. However, he knew she would probably not understand, so he prepared himself to set off on a long journey.

[Castigo]

"OhthankMagrus!" she blurted out with a nervous chuckle. "I was worried you'd be furious."

Finally her feet resettled upon the ashy land. The soles of her feet were heavily caked by wet soot by now; as soothing as it felt, wearing steel-toed boots was more practical than carrying them around. She sought those out quickly - along with her pole - thrusting her feet into the former and taking up the latter in her right hand.

"We'd better get walking now," her upbeat self declared, "It's a long journey, and I'd hate to get stuck in another storm... or ancient tunnel."

Flashing him a grin of encouragement, she took the lead and walked at a quickened pace in the direction the map had indicated. After the ordeal that had come to pass, she felt more in control than ever before. The feeling was an illusion, but the girl could not realize that then. Just as well, the buoyancy of her spirit would prove critical during the long, arduous tread across the Ash Wastes.

Thankfully, I won't be going it alone.

[Castigo]

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