[color=royalblue]Ooooo Lolly. *eats it* ^____^
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[center]Enchanted Dream- Episode 3
Chirimi! Save Mikia![/center]
Mikia screamed again at the sight that faced her. A giant snake reared up at her, spitting venom. It was fierce-looking. Longer than any snake Mikia had ever seen, it had fangs to match. They glinted in the firelight from the venom seeping from them. It was dirt brown in color and had green markings all along its body to help it blend in with its surroundings. It?s eyes were blood red and glowing, staring down Mikia with an intense hunger.
?Fresh meat?? the snake said darkly, its long fangs dripping.
?I-I-I-It talks?!!?? Mikia stammered. ?This i-i-i-isn?t ha-ha-happening!!?
?Oh, but it isss, my dear,? the snake hissed. ?You sssee, I haven?t eaten for a while, and even though both Massster Dairaiko and General Nagari sssay not to eat anyone unless they are a rebel, I believe I can make an excception in your cassse.? The snake crept towards Mikia, swaying ever so slightly from side to side, attempting to mesmerize her. ?Come, child?.Death awaitsss you??
Mikia?s eyes began to fog from the effects of the mesmer.
?Yes?.Death?awaits...? she said in a voice laden with trance. She slowly began walking towards the serpent?s waiting fangs?.
[center]***[/center]
Chirimi was still running through the forest back to the campsite where he?d left Mikia, cursing himself for doing so. He had come farther than he thought when he left before, and it was taking him a bit longer to get back. He finally reached the bushes where the campsite lay just behind and came crashing through them just as the demon was about to strike.
?Mikia!? he cried, looking at the scene before him. His face contorted into one of hatred and fury at what he saw. ?Dark Basilisk?one of Dairaiko?s minions?? He quickly reached to his back and unsheathed his katana. It?s blade brilliantly reflected both the moon and firelight.
?Ssss?Chirimi!? the Basilisk spat, looking away from Mikia, who was still in a trance, and focused on Chirimi. It?s eyes turned a deeper hue of red and seemed to smile a bit as it advanced on Chirimi. ?Massster Dairaiko hasss put a high bounty on your head, little Chirimi??
?No doubt he has?? Chirimi growled through gritted teeth, tightening his grip on the hitl of his sword and shifting into an offensive stance.
The Dark Basilisk lunged at Chirimi, mouth gaping and fangs flashing, looking to bite deep into Chirimi?s flesh. Chirimi dodged with amazing speed, making the demon lodge its teeth partially in the soft soil. It bit down and lifted its head, spitting out the earth it had eaten. Chirimi rushed the serpent, sword glinting, aiming to pierce the heart of the beast. The Basilisk curned around the blade with great agility and draped itself around Chirimi, tightening its coils and squeezing the breath from him He choked for air and dropped his sword. It happened to strike a rock and the resulting ring it made was loud enough to wake Mikia from her trance, which it did. She looked around a bit dazed, and then saw Chirimi and the Dark Basilisk.
?Chirimi!?
Mikia looked about frantically, trying to find something that would detour the demon from its goal of killing Chirimi. She finally looked towards the fire, and an idea came to her. She lunged toward it and grabbed a piece of kindling that was still ablaze at the opposite end, and hurled it as hard as she could at the demon?s coils. Fortunately, it didn?t hit Chirimi in the process. The Dark Basilisk hissed and spat in pain, and in doing so, loosened its coils and freed Chirimi. He quickly ducked underneath the coils, retrieved his dropped sword, and sent it straight through the serpent?s head from the bottom. He withdrew it quickly and then cut its head off completely. It hit the ground with a sickening thud and rolled under the bushes. The lifeless corpse went limp and fell at Chirimi?s feet. He glared down at it and then sighed, his face returning to the calmness he once displayed. He looked up at Mikia, a look of gratitude in his eyes, then they fogged slightly and he slumped to the ground and lie there. Mikia raced over to him, gently lifting his head.
?Chirimi! Chirimi, can you hear me??
Mikia lowered her face down to his mouth to check his breathing. It was slow, and labored but he was breathing sure as day.
?Oh, Chirimi?. Thank you.? She breathed. She hugged him closer to her and closed her eyes. She didn't? notice the glow her hands gave off, and when Chirimi?s breathing suddenly returned to normal. She gently set his head down n her lap and looked at him. ?He looks so peaceful?.Oh, please be okay?.? She closed her eyes again and sighed, then began to weep silently She sat there for the longest time, wishing and praying that he would be all right, until eventually, her weariness overcame her, and she fell asleep in the grass near Chirimi using her arm as a pillow. Unbeknownst to her, a pair of ebony eyes were watching her. Those of a raven?one that had been watching ever since the Dark Basilisk had first attacked Mikia. It seemed to scowl at her as if it were angry at her for interfering in the conflict. It flew off sloundlessly back to its Master?back to Dairaiko?.to report what it had seen and to witness what wrath the Dark Basilisk General Nagari would face from Dairaiko for having one of his underlings fail to kill Chirimi once again?
[center]***[/center]
Morning came and brought with it the bright rays that woke Mikia from her sleep. Well, that, and her nose was being pinched shut by Chirimi?
?Gonna sleep all day?? he asked playfully.
Mikia flailed around and smacked his hand away.
?You trying to kill me?!? Mikia asked hotly.
?Of course not.? Came his cheery reply. ?Just trying to get you up and stop you from snoring. You?ll go around and wake and bring another demon around here.? he teased.
?I don?t- Hey, wait! You?re okay!? Mikia got up and hugged Chirimi as hard as she could.
[i]?She almost as bad as the Basilisk??[/i] Chirimi thought. Further comparison was cut short when Mikia smacked Chirimi in the back of his head.
?You scared me half to death, you jerk!? she yelled at him, her face boring an uncanny likeness to an angry Ryoko from Tenchi. Chirimi was still rubbing the back of his head and trying to see if she?d drawn blood.
?Well, I?m sorry!? he said wincing. ?I felt fine when I woke up this morning. It?s kind of odd though, because I know I?d at least have a broken rib or something from that attack last night. The pain I had was the reason I passed out. But when I got up today, nothing hurt. I was completely fine.?
?Maybe you?re like Wolverine, and can heal yourself.? Mikia thought out loud.
?No, I can assure you I?m not self-healing. Wait a second. Who?s ?Wolverine???
?Never mind. Too long a story.? she said, waving him off. ?I keep forgetting where I am?.?
?Huh?Whatever?.? he said shrugging. ?You hungry? I caught some more fish,? he said, handing her a cooked fish impaled in a stick.
?Yeah, I?m famished!? Mikia said gratefully accepting the fish he offered. She promptly sat down and practically inhaled it in one bite. It amazed Chirimi that she didn?t choke. ?Thish ish wewry good, Chihimi.? Mikia said with her mouth still full of fish. A sweatdrop appeared on Chirimi?s brow.
?Thanks, I guess?? he said, trying hard not to laugh. ?Say, I, uh?wanted to thank you?for helping me last night.?
Mikia?s face turned a bit serious them. But only a little. She was still trying to get the fish down. She quickly swallowed it and began her reasoning.
?You were in trouble,? Mikia started, ?and I helped you. Plus, you saved me from being eaten by that giant, talking snake, so it was the least I could do!? She?d swallowed the fish by now, and gave Chirimi a gentle and thankful look, much like the one he?d given her the night before. Chirimi was a bit taken by it. The soft morning sunlight reflecting off her face made her look quite lovely?
?Still. I owe you one.? He said thankfully. ?So, uh, you don?t have anywhere to go, do you??
?Nope. Sure don?t.? Mikia replied. ?This is a pretty strange place to me, and I?d get lost in no time? She decided not to bring up the fact that this was a book and she wasn?t supposed to be there.
?Well, would you like to come along with me?? Chirimi asked hopefully.
?Of course! I mean, with the demons and all, I?d be crazy not to!? Mikia accepted enthusiastically.
?Great! If you?re finished eating, we can get going.? Chirimi said, rising.
?Where to?? Mikia asked, also getting to her feet.
?A town just up the road. We need to get some things.? Chirimi told her, stooping to pick up his sword. ?You ready??
?Yeah, just let me get my purse.? Mikia walked over to where she had dropped her purse last night, and walked back over to Chirimi. Together, they went trough some trees and came out at a well-traveled dirt road. Chirimi turned to the right and started walking, so Mikia followed and trotted up beside Chirimi, matching his gait as they walked to the nearby town.
?You know,? Chirimi began, ?you never told me what that white thing was.?
?CHIRIMI!!!?
Next Episode:
Mikia?s History Lesson
Or
Chirimi?s Vow
Dream on, Beautiful Dreamer?
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