The Forgotten Island
A VERY PARTICULAR SET OF SKILLS

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE:

A VERY PARTICULAR SET OF SKILLS

-Arya-

I sat on my haunches as turmoil surrounded me. Krill scrambled to collect the things needed to treat the wounds of the pups, their chests rising and falling rapidly as they struggled to hold onto their existence. The chocolate cake lay forgotten just a few yards from me, my world having completely changed, again, in the last few minutes. As I sat, fear and blood soaking the ground of our sanctuary, something within me snapped. I felt feral as I looked around, my eyes landing on Bob’s blood-spattered face as he put pressure on a wound near Jetsam’s right haunch. Jetsam screamed in pain, Krill covering his body trying to hold him down as arrows were pulled from his flesh. Barb oversaw Flotsam’s treatment as Ethel barked orders for water, bandages, and antiseptics.

I felt outside of myself as I slowly got to my feet, the blood in my veins thickening and strengthening as my resolve did. I called out to my creations, power resonating in my voice. “Krill” I spoke, all of them pausing to look up and listen. “Bob, fortify defenses. I want the guards doubled and backup weapons stored within reach of each. Barbara, get Flotsam and Jetsam moved into the meeting hall. You and a team get them stabilized by whatever means necessary. Ethel, with me.” Bob and Barb got to work immediately as Ethel moved to walk beside me, giving the clean bandages she held to one of the Krill on the infirmary team.

I walked with purpose back to my apartments. “Ethel, we need information. Gather a recon team; we need to know where they live, where they have Fish and Darnell, and how many of them there are. Recon only, Ethel, make sure everyone stays hidden. I want to make sure our attack is a surprise.” Having received my instructions, Ethel disappeared with a pop. Undressing, I got into the shower as I went over different strategies in my head, trying not to dwell on what torture my friends were currently enduring. I couldn’t save them if I couldn’t think clearly. Taking deep breaths to calm my nerves, I let the room temperature water wash over me. We didn’t have much time, and there was much to do.

Dawn broke over a hushed sanctuary, green mist still layered above the ground. I stood before my small army of Krill as the light began to wash over us. I had worked through most of the night, practicing and perfecting both fighting techniques and body armor. The time had been well spent, and I was now covered almost completely in small scale like pieces of bark over my bare skin. Wrapped around my chest and shoulders were ropes of vines resembling double strapped suspenders. My hair was in an updo of tightly wound braids, and I had left my feet bare to keep a stronger connection with the earth. I looked down at the family I had created, all watching me with determined eyes. Scouts had reported back a few hours earlier and had delivered grim news. The cannibal village lay a two day walk from here, next to a large cave in the side of a mountain. The scouts had shown me images of Fish in a bamboo cage while Darnell had been tied to a large pole in the middle of the village. It seemed like hundreds lived there, and the odds of victory were not in my favor. Still, I had to try.

I bent down to hug the Krill, steeling myself against any tears at the possibility of not seeing them again. I loved them all so much, and they had made life here rich and enjoyable. Crouching, I opened my arms, but none entered. Puzzled, I lowered my rejected limbs and stared at them, noticing for the first time that all looked more determined than a group should who were staying out of battle. “No, no, no. I can’t put you all in danger, especially with success being such a slim chance. If for some reason you remain alive after my death, they may imprison or enslave any of you they can capture. I couldn't bear it, even in the afterlife.” Tiny hands converged on me at my words, images flashing through my mind. Memories of the Krill overwhelmed me as each of my creations showed me precious moments they had of both Darnell and Fish. Fish reenacting movies for them using water to make the characters and backgrounds come to life. Darnell teaching them how to build the plumbing and bringing them books from the storehouse he thought they may like. Fish laughing as they played practical jokes on the pups, Darnell carrying them on his shoulders as he sang. On and on the images flashed, each unique and beautiful. The memories of the Krill were all stained with love and appreciation for my two friends, and I was overcome with emotion. They would not stay behind while I attempted a solo rescue mission, they weren’t just my friends anymore, they were beloved by the Krill now too.

I stood up, their hands falling from me as they backed away. “Very well. We have a lot of ground to cover, and I will be pulling energy from the plant life around me as I run to keep my energy up. We stay together, and attack as one. When we arrive you lot will keep them distracted while I release Fish and Darnell. Have no mercy, and leave no aggressor alive.” They raised their voices in a harrowing war cry, shouting and chanting with deep tones.

Sanctuary guards brought down a section of the perimeter barrier, and we passed through quickly, the bushes and trees melding back together as the last of us passed. Looking back one last time at the sanctuary, I began to run.

Hold on Fish, I am coming.