Goose Feathers Ch.11

-Chapter Eleven-

For the remainder of the day the three of us wandered around, meeting with the other children and their frantically obsessive abopters. Not one of them seemed happy, though...why would they? But what really got me worried was that we have yet to see a trace of either Doa or Anza.  Geen and I even asked some of the children we came across but they just tilted their heads in confustion before shaking their heads. The nagging fear that they might not be there ate at me constantly. I guess my worry was written all over my face because Geen kept reasuring me that the twins were fine and that we would find them, followed by a rough ruffling of my head.
As dusk came and we, along with the other scattered and broken families, started up a camp fire. This gave me a good chance to practice my one fire spell and after some complaining from Geen I finally got the pile of dried grass lit.
"Neh, my brain hurts now," I moaned, having a headache from concentrating so hard.
We nibbled on what was left of our provisions, though Geen and I gave what we could to those who come and begged. Nathanial chided us not to. Saying that we needed all our strength for when the Pide Pier came.
"That's right...he's coming tonight." I peered blankly into the small fire, still not quite able to believe we would face him so soon. Truth be told, I was a little scared. I was just a simple human who knew a few tricks. How could I be of any help? I did have to admit though I didn't really see how any of us could do anything. Nathanial was just some odd scholar while Geen could only fly around in loops and cook. There was no way we were going to win, we were just going through the motions of the so called heros. All I wanted to do was find Anza and Doa and get out of here. My meek thoughts were disrutped as Nathanail smothered the fire with some dirt.
"Come, we must take cover. The element of surprise can mean the success of any battle."
Solemnly we followed our leader, making our way to the border of the ruined city and laying low in the tall grass. And then we waited...and waited....and waited and waited some more. I swear, none of my stakeouts took nearly as long. Then again Loshi said I never had a talent in patience. But who can blame me? There was nothing more boring in life then waiting. It was only through the jabbing pains of Geen's elbow into my ribs was I able to keep my eyes open. Then the moment came.
"Look," Nathanial whispered, pointing into the distance.
I lifted my head as high as I could to get a better look. There in the rubble a group of adults were massing. They were waiting for something, or, more likly, someone. It didn't take long before the star of the show appeared through that purple pool portal, displaying what childen he had stolen to to eager parents. An uproar could be heard from the parents, shaking small sacks of what money they had left into the Piper's face. The Pide Piper took four sacks and presented the children to their new families and sent the rest off. One man stayed behind though, grabbing the piper's coat as he was about to leave back through the portal.
"I was afraid of this," Nath growled. I could hear his fingertips grip the ground.
"What?" Geen asked nervously. "What's going on?"
The man speaking to the Piper then pointed to where we were hiding.
"We've been ratted out. You two stay her, I'll call you once you are needed."
"What are-" Geen never got to finish though as Nathanial dashed off. I watched in shock as Nathainal charged off to battle. I was surprised at how nimble the book worm was, swinging punches and kicks as if he had trained for this very moment. His opponent was light on his feet as well though, dodging blow for blow and throwing some of his own as well. People fled whenever the fight came too close for comfort, giving the duelists plenty of room. I shouted in anger when the Piper picked up a beam and bashed Nathanial with it.
"Quiet!" Geen hissed, pushing my head back down into the grass.
The fight went on with no clear winner in sight, though my heart raced for Nathanial's victory...especially when wide pillars of clay shot up from the remains of the city. I held my breath as the pillars began to enclose the two, Nathanail wrestling with the Piper for the beam. When they were almost enclosed I could just see my comrade shoved the Piper to the ground and ran out of the circle of pillars, allowing them to trap the Piper within. Nathanial whiped his hands clean, nodding in satisfaction. "You can come out now children," he called. "It's safe."
"That was amazing!" I shouted as I ran to Nathanail. "How did you do that?"
Nath smiled in his victory, beaming at my amazment. "Nothing but a terra firma spell that I learned in one of my travels."
Geen went over and inspected the small fortress, giving it a small knock.
"Don't worry, Geen," Nath reasured him, "those walls are far too tall and far too smooth for him to climp out of. He's stuck in there but good."
Geen lingered by the wall a little more, nodding to himself before walking over to us. "So now what? We leave him there?"
"No, though tempting. We'll get the children back home, maybe getting some reinfocements to handle the would be parents if not the Piper himself."
"But we still havn't found Anza or Doa," I protested.
"I'm sure they're somewhere about Raisa. They probably took some shelter during the day and besides...." Nathainal trailed off as a soft tune echoed from the well the Piper was in. I peered at the top of the walls confusingly. What was he playing his flute for?
Then the gruond began to shake beneath my feet. Before I could ask what was going on the clay walls returned to the earth.
"Nath, what are you doing?!" I shouted, coming face to face with the Pide Piper; an evil gleam in his hazel eyes. "Nathanial!!"
My answer came in the form of a sucker punch served by Nathanial's fist. I was knocked to the ground dazed and confused. I quickly regained by senses as I heard foot steps crunch their way for me. I froze in fear, scared out of my wits as I gazed up at Nathianal; his eyes dull and glazed over behind his specticals. He gave a powerful stomp to my shins, causing me to scream in pain. "Stop it Nath!" I cried, bringing in my legs close to me. "Stop it!"
"Raisa run!" Shout Geen. I caught a glimse of him throwing punch after lundge at the Piper, trying to get a solid hit but failed. "We have to make a retreat!"
"But Nathanial..."
"There's nothing we can do for him now! We have to go!"
"No...No we can't just leave him here! Nathanial please stop this! We're not the enemy! He is!"
Nathanial stood still and I smiled in relief. But then the ground beneath me suddenly shot up, sending me flying a few feet into the air. I screamed as I flew, landing with a thud and empaling a metal rod into my upper arm. Again I screamed, my arm limp and useless now.
"Raisa!" Geen ran to my side, helping me to my feet. He tightly grabbed my remaining hand and pulled me along. I did my best to follow, but the pain from the rod was almost too much to bare and caused me to trip and fall a few times during our escape.
"Come on, don't give up now." Geen would tell me before frantically helping me back to my feet. It seemed like forever before he stopped.
I dropped to me knees, hissing in pain, rocking back and forth trying to cope with the throbbing.
"We should be safe here," Geen said, panting heavily. "They didn't give chase so I don't think they plan on seeing us again." He knelt next to me, examining my wound.
"Get it out!" I begged. "Please get it out Geen. It hurts."
"I know... but I can't. It's the only thing keeping you from bleeding to death."
"I don't care!" I screamed. "I want it out." Tears streamed down my face. I wanted this pain to be over with!!
"Geen? Raisa?"  
We raised our heads, looking for the all too familiar voice that called to us. At first it was just my imagination, brought on by the rod, but then there, out of unseen barrow came Doa's head, followed by his sister.
"Anza! Doa!" Geen cried, bounding to the barrow. The twins quickly hid back into the barrow, though, Doa growling fiercly.
"Who are you?" he demanded. "You sound like Geen but you sure don't look like him."
"Wha? Oh right." Geen slid off his necklace and his human disgiuse fadded away as if mist.
"It is you!" Shouted Anza, tackling him with a hug along with her brother. I smiled despite the agony I was in, glad to see the twins were safe and sound. Their attention then drifted off to me, Anza gasping at my injury. They slowly approached, not sure at how to greet me.
"Raisa?" Doa asked. "Are you okay?"
"Just fine, this pole here though seems to have an unhealthy affection for me."
"You got hurt because of us, didn't you?" Anza questioned, tears in her eyes.
"No, not really. Though it would make this wound a lot more nobel if I did. Geh!" I crumpled under the pain, whimpering loudly.
"Raisa!" The twins rushed over and stood on either side of me.
"I'm fine...just..." I couldn't finish, forcing myself to grind me teeth instead of screaming out and scaring the little ones.
"Don't touch her," Geen warned. "We have to get her to a healer. Do you two know if there's a village near by?"
"No..." The answered in unison, thier long pointed ears drooping.
"Turtle will know what to do," Doa told us, getting both himself and Anza excited.
"Yeah!" Agreed his sister. "He healed us when he found us, he can do the same for Raisa."
Turtle...now why did that name sound farmiliar? Bah...must be the pain messing with my mind. Who would ever name their kid Turtle?
"Great, where is he?" Geen asked.
The twins looked at each other, looking less then happy.
"He should have been here by now," Anza said.
Doa nodded."Yeah, he'd bring us food around now."
"Have no fear little ones, ol' Uncle Hilt is 'ere."
That voice...I know that voice and it was one I hoped to never hear again. Out from the grass came the Goblin gang, making their way towards us.
"Uncle Hilt!" The children shouted happily and ran off to greet the band of goblins. The same band of heathens that kidnapped me just last night! Though, now it seemed like ages ago. The purple lutin laughed as he took a twin in each arm, spinning them around as they giggled. The others wern't far behind, the red and white one looking less then thrilled to see the kids while the green monster purred happily, rubbing the twins' head when they came trotting up to him and gave them a hug.
"Now what do we 'ave 'ere?" questioned Boss, or Hilt...or whoever he was. He approached me but Geen interepted him, spreding his wings as he hissed at the purple Lutin. "Stay away from her," he ordered. "I'm not going to let you take her away again!"
"Easy lad," he chuckled. "If I wanted the lass, you wouldn't 'ave seen her again. That looks like a bad wound, even for a goblin. There ain't a healer for a good long ways and I don't tink she can last the days walk to one."
"That's none of your buisness. Anza, Doa get behind me."
"But Geen, they'er not going to hurt us," Doa answered.
"Now!"
The twins scuffuled behind Geen, keeping close to me as I went on with my rocking.
"Tat's true, it's none o' me business in how you take care of the lass, but..."
"But what?"
"We could save ya both the truble and heal her now."
There was a pause.
"How?"
"Heh, just step aside and let Turtle 'ere 'ave a look at her."
Geen growled, his whole being shaking in frustration. He then folded his wings and steps aside. "You better not be lieing."
Hilt smurked. "Wings! Radar!"
"Yes Boss?" They answered together.
"Go hunt someting for our guests. They must be hungry from all they went through."
They left quietly and quickly, making it seem as if they were never there.
"Alright Turtle, go ahead."
At Hilt's okay the green giant laid me on my side, taking a hold of the rod.
"Cover ye ears little ones, tis is go'n to be loud. You too lad, though it won't make it any easier on ye."
Before I could ask what Turtle planed on doing, the rod was suddenly ripped from my arm. I let out a ear splitting scream and then...everything went black as I passed out from the pain.