Welcome to Gaia! :: View User's Journal | Gaia Journals

They ruled out sandstorms, thunderstorms, or storms of any kind. The cloud was still tailing them, even during the day. The crew was starting to suspect something supernatural. The sight alone made Louie uneasy. After three days, the cloud itself dispersed, yet four little specks from the cloud still flowed their ship.

After landing for another futile hunting attempt, the 'specks' caught up, and revealed themselves to be four large bats. Even as they took off again, the bats began to circle the ship. Louie and Zapook became restless because of this, and kept watch to make sure all was well. Onima was even pulled down from the crows nest because of this.

Without warning, the bats began to swoop down toward anyone that wasn't Louie or Zapook. Aussa stayed below deck, and Zee would simply dodge them if she had business to tend to out in the open.

Tina was still bed ridden most of the time, but after hearing about the relentless attacks, she grew angry, and wished to help.

Of course, they kept her in bed.

Louie didn't bother with them unless they tried to attack anyone, and Zapook has tried several times to get rid of them, failing each time.

This is getting out of hand. We can't do much with them following us.

Chances are they're waiting for us to land so they can do some real damage.

What's even more worrying is that before we saw a crap ton of those things. There are a lot of vamps out here, and that's gonna be trouble for us, and everyone else that's traveling.

Screw everyone else, let's focus on us for now. We need them gone. And we need to get outta this desert before it drives me nuts. I will overheat and explode, and this ship will go with me.

Keep it in check. We're almost out, right Aussa?

Actually, we've got only about 100 miles to go, then we'll be seeing some new terrain.

Love it. So what about the winged rats out there?

If we *cough* can make it out of the desert, they might not pursue us over the ocean.

She's right. Moisture and wings don't usually mix.

The group continued talking, with Onima left by the door leading outside, keeping watch at the winged intruders through the window to said door. After their talk, Zee and Zapook make they're way toward the door, only to find Onima laughing and watching a black moth buzz around a light in the hall.

You're suppose to be watchin' you idiot! What if they landed!

Zee ran pass her, and Zapook grumbled, grabbing Onima's shirt collar and dragging her toward the door. When the two counter parts peered out, several of the vampires had landed, with several more circling overhead. Growling, Zee ran out, breathing fire into the sky to chase them off. Zapook immediately pulls her wand out of her shirt, drops Onima, and follows Zee's example.

With the situation finally clicking in her head, Onima ran back to tell the others what had happened.

Zee and Zapook tried to fight off as many as they could, but for every one that knocked off the ship, two more landed. Zee was starting to get reckless, and became more violent, which helped in the fight, but was damaging the ship as well. The whole situation seemed to be turning for the worst, until the moonlight was suddenly blocked out. This not only caught Zee and Zapook by surprise, but the attackers as well.
Looking up, large storm clouds had gathered, and began to rumble menacingly. Zee immediately treated indoors again, and Zapook kept watching, waiting for their ship to be struck and hoping she could prevent any major damage. Several bolts of lighting suddenly shot down in loud crashes, yet the only thing that was hit were vampires. with each strike, they went shooting off the ship in twos and threes, while the ones that were still in mid-flight dropped past the ship, falling to the ground like bugs that had flown into a bug zapper.

Once the skies and ship deck were clear of threat, the clouds roaring dimmed down, before the clouds disappeared all together. Zapook looked back just in time to see Tina collapse into her sister's arms in the doorway of the bridge.





The sun was rising, ending the crews stressful night. Tina was put in bed once more, and Zee, Aussa, and Onima had joined her. Louie and Zapook were out on the bow, watching as the ground below finally showed signs of green again. The smell of the ocean was growing stronger, which put a smile on Zapook's face.

So glad we're finally getting outta this desert.

Tell me about it, that was hell. Plus, I'd love to see the ocean again. Hopefully freshwater so we won't dehydrate. That's two major confrontations we've avoided now.

Louie, a bit skiddish at first, moves closer to Zapook, who notices him and reaches over, holding his hand and leaning on him.

I'm just glad we have a guide like you to help us out.

Louie couldn't have but smile as he put his arm around her.
I'm glad I could be of service. Though you should be thanking the white furred one.

Yeah, she'll do that. Pull something like that out of her a** at the last second.

They both laughed, which trailed off as they watched the sky light up around them. Louie couldn't control his smile, while Zapook was staring up at him, before sighing to herself grumpily.