*All characters copyrighted to Poseidon Simons

Chapter 14

Quick Rescue

"Let's see...this knife has to hit the exact spot..." Cory walked around the giant's head, looking for the area he needed. The giant turned again, "Damn it, stay still!"

"Mph!"

Cory walked over to the voice. It was in the bushes, slightly muffled, "Be quiet Johnny. I'll deal with you after the giant." He smirked at Johnny, who was tied up and hidden. The fairy dragon chirped up where she'd been tied, but barely a sound came out since her mouth had been tied shut as well. She was dangling by her wings from a branch, and there was no way she'd be getting out anytime soon. He shifted his attention back to the giant, who had moved again, "You just can't stay still, can you?!" He walked around the giant's head again to aim the knife, but the giant started rolling again!

"Rrrrrgggghhhh...hold still!!!!!!" Cory whispered. He ran around to the other side of the giant's head and aimed.

Jack and Kim came upon Don's sleeping form; he was turning back and forth, looking for a comfortable position while he slept. Jack and Kim gasped as they saw Cory run around to the other side, holding a knife in his hand. Without thinking, Jack ran forward and slammed himself into Cory. He remembered his arm before the impact and made sure his good arm was in front to take the blow. Cory grunted and fell backward, losing the knife as he tumbled. It landed, stuck in the ground point first, right by Don's head.

Cory grimaced, "I almost had him! Just you wait, Jack. I'll get you for this!!!!!!" He ran off a ways, then flew into the night sky.

Kim carefully got up on Don's chest, crawling up to his head. When she was about by his mouth, she shouted, "DON, GET UP!!!!!!!!"

"Augh!" Don screamed a little as he was brought out of sleep. He took in a few large breaths of air then calmed down, "Kim, don't do that! You scared me!"

"Don, where's Johnny?!"

"What d'you mean? He's right...there..." Don looked at the empty spot on his chest, "He would've woken me if he'd gotten up...and where'd the fairy dragon go?"

Jack, puzzeled, searched for her with his thoughts, "Crystal, are you there?"

"Jack! Jack, get me down!!!"

"Crystal, what happened?!!" Jack looked around for her as he spoke.

"I'm up higher, Jack." Her tone was flat, annoyed, "It was a black anthro. He did not seem to like Johnny much."

"Oh. I think you met Cory."

"Still higher, Jack. Rrrgghh...LOOK UP ALREADY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Jack winced and looked higher up. Finally he saw her hanging from a branch, "What the--Crystal, hang on!!!!!!!!"

"What else am I supposed to do?! Get me down!"

"Kim, can you...umm..." He pointed up.

Kim followed his hand and gasped when she saw Crystal. Without another word, she gave Maik to Jack, flew up, and started freeing Crystal. The moment she was free, Crystal dove into a bush, dragging Johnny out as she emerged. Johnny was wincing as he was dragged out, but he looked grateful. Kim and Jack got to work untieing him.

"Jack, where have you been?!!" Johnny asked once he could speak again.

"We got here as fast as we could..." Jack stared at the ground, trying not to look Johnny in the eye, "I'm sorry..."

Johnny brushed himself off, "Well, you came. I thank you for that. Where's Ania?"

"Ania!" Jack hit himself for forgeting about her. He listened for her thoughts.

"Lisa...are you...done? Okay...I will...tell them." Jack wondered what she was talking about, then realized she had been talking to Lisa in sign-language. Her voice was much faster the second time, "Jack, wherever you are, we can come now."

Jack smiled, "They're done at the city. Should we head to them, or have them come here?"

Kim shook her head, "We'll go to them. Let's see...Jack, your promise?"

"I didn't forget." Jack walked over to Crystal and dug into his pocket, "Crystal, remember when I told you I'd bring you some sugar?"

"Yes..."

"I have it now." He pulled out the candies he'd bought. Crystal chirped with delight and licked them right off his hand.

"I thought you'd forget!"

"So did Kim. I would've brought more, but I can't get to my other pocket, so I only bought enough to fill that up. Are they good?"

"Delicious." She said, licking her lips, "I wish they'd have given me this when I was caged. I would have gladly stayed."

"I'm happy they didn't. We would never have become friends if they had."

Don looked around, "So does this mean you're ready to go home? I need to leave like right now."

Jack glanced at the giant, shaking in fear at the thought of riding in that backpack again, "Umm...we still haven't checked Icta village yet..."

Johnny looked at him awkwardly, "But we know you came from the larger island. How else could you have met Nino?"

"I don't know, but I'd at least like to wait until we have the safer backpack...that wooden one scared me..."

"Jack?"

"Yes Crystal?"

"If we are staying on this island longer, could you bring more of those sugars?"

"Candies, Crystal."

"Candies...please? They tasted so good..." She stared at him with pleading eyes, making it impossible for him to say no.

Don stood up, "Well, if you're gonna wait until two weeks have passed, I can bring the backpack. Are you sure you'll be alright 'till then?"

Jack gulped, thinking of how high they'd have to go when they left the island, "Yeah, I'll manage.