Yet, these homes were simple places where not a sign of anyone moving out could really be seen. Sure, there were all sorts of indications that people had hurried away, but there was stuff that made it look rather like people had just left for a few moments. Papers were still on tables, panties were on drying lines, and children's toys rested where they'd been last laid. It felt somewhat like the residents were going to come back sometime soon, and he wasn't sure that he wanted to be there when they did.
"It's too quiet," Usagi whimpered, still under her blanket.
A small smile curved Ranma's lips as he admitted to himself that she was right, but didn't let himself get too caught up in it. "'Course it'll be quiet. No reason for it not ta be. But just remember, there ain't anythin' out there that'll hurt ya."
"Are you sure about that?" Minako shakily murmured against the wind.
"Yeah, I'm sure. Remember, it ain't like anyone's been here for a while."
Rei's voice drifted over from where she was. "At least in human form."
"Don't worry about it. What could really happen?"
Just then, the sound of a great bit of movement burst into the night, and, with a great flutter of wings, and a loud series of caws and hoots, dark shapes sailed up into the air above them.
This was followed by a great amount of feminine screeching from all around the camp.
"It's just...." Ranma began, only to stop as he noticed that his sleeping bag was suddenly more occupied than he'd thought it had been. With Usagi clinging up to one side, Minako cuddling up to the other, Ami practically in his lap, Rei leaning over his right side with Michiru doing the opposite on his left, that was especially true. "Birds."
"Big ones," the blue haired neogirl allowed.
His first neogirl shivered. "Scary ones."
"I can understand what ya mean, but why don't you take it like Haruka? See how she's handlin' it?" he told the group around him... only to sigh when he recognized just what the short haired blonde was up to. "Oh, you can join them together, now can ya?"
"That's the idea," Haruka admitted as she continued to zip her sleeping bag to his.
"Oh boy."
The old woman's hands were quavering on her staff, but she still held it more than well enough to keep her balance. "They may be a big help to us."
"What makes you think so, Great Grandmother?" the shapely young woman next to her asked with a frown.
"They aren't locals, and have obviously got some tricks up their sleeves, child. That can seriously assist our plans if need be."
"But they act so silly...."
"Which marks them as having hearts," the elder instructed rather firmly. "Remember that."
"Can they really help us few?"
"It is really possible, if we approach it correctly. If nothing else, that man may be your ticket out of this place."
"What? How can you ask me to place my future in the hands of someone like that?!"
"You have a problem with that?"
"Of course!" the girl replied and wrinkled her nose in disgust. "That man is old enough to be my father, is bulky, and has that creepy feel...."
A loud 'whap' was heard as the elderly lady brought her staff down onto the head of the young woman, much to the amusement of those with them. "Not him. The one with the pigtail."
"Oh, right. Ow. But he's looks to be... busy."
"Somehow, I doubt that he'd have a problem with someone like you joining him."
"Are you saying that I should seduce him?"
"Child, I don't expect that you could fail in that, but the main point is to bond with him. He has to want to take you with him, and if he does, you'll have a chance to be free of this place."
"I belong here with you!" the girl protested, looking distressed at the very concept of her departure. "My place is with you and our people!"
"Do you want to be collected by the government."
"Of course not...."
"Then you must not let this opportunity pass by your fingers! Our people are dying out, and our only chance to see our lines be reborn is for you to get out to continue them. Others may follow, but you are my Heir, child, and our future rests with you!" rasped the old woman as she took hold of the teen's blouse and dragged the girl down to eye level with a deceptively delicate hand.
"We've already lost so much. I don't want to abandon you."
"I'm a part of you, child, by blood and nurturing. My effect won't disappear so quickly on you."
"I suppose."
"Remember, we may have been watching him from the shadows, but its easy to see that the boy has a good heart, and would be strong in a fight. Both of which would be needed to help keep you safe. And its exactly that. I will be entrusting you to his care."
"It's not that I hate him, or something like that...."
"Good, because we must move. Sooner, rather than later," the old woman wheezed, ending off in a coughing jag.
"Great-grandmother!"
"Let me be, child. I may be old, but I am not decrepit. I can care for myself."
"I don't want to lose you too...."
"If I haven't died yet, I'm not about to go so easily. In the mean time, you have a young man to see about joining."
Listening to her great-grandmother, the teenaged girl nodded solemnly, and turned her head to look in the direction of the boy huddling with the girls, while:
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(Posted Mon, 19 May 2008 01:26)
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