The Lore Wain and Her Nephew Pt. 29

The sun had gotten to close to setting when Ramger remarked, "Somethings not right." He paced back and forth on the top deck with his hand on his chin. "Aye, stop yer pacing. It won't bring them back here faster." Alagatha said as she stopped Ramger by stepping into his path and grabbing both of his shoulders. "Ye need to relax." Ramger was surprised but he responded by shaking his head. "No, there's something wrong. I know it." He looked back at the hill the other half of the crew went over. "This was supposed to be a quick stop, not an entire day!" "Ramger's right." Kinabrick spoke up as he walked over to the side of the ship. "This wasn't supposed to take this long." Alagatha looked a Kinabrick, letting go of Ramger. "What should we do? We can't just leave the ship, Echo is too vulnerable." Kinabrick looked towards another one of their Annerian ships docked. "I have a plan." He looked back at the anxious advisor and the ex pirate with strategy. "Alagatha and I will go investigate." "What?" Ramger remarked with shock. "Why- Why can't I go along?" "This is no offense to you, Ram." Kinabrick looked at him intently, "You're what King Echo needs right now. I'll send some of my soldiers over from the other ships to guard you with him as I go with Alagatha." Ramger wanted protest but stopped himself as he looked between his brother in-law and Alagatha. With a sigh, he replied, "So be it... The child is asleep in the Captain's cabin. I suppose I should go there for now." Kinabrick nodded to Ramger as he walked over to Alagatha. "You have a weapon?" "I have me sword." Alagatha patted her sword in its sheath at her side. "Didn't ye see it before?" "Just making sure. I think we'll need to use them." Kinabrick replied before leading her off the ship to find Celeste and her crew. - Even after a few hours, the majority of the crew were still knocked out but at the very least weren't on the ground outside anymore. Nala and Janner had struggled to bring each member inside to tend to them. Nala had been sitting beside Cynthia for the past the hour when Celeste finally started to stir from her deep sleep. Janner to told his mother and she left Cynthia on her lonesome to care for the Lore Wain. Cynthia, after hours of being unable to move, slowly came to have more control over her limbs. For some reason, the effects of the poison wasn't as bad for her as they were the others. It was hard for Nala to tell why but she assumed it had something to do with whatever caused Cy to grow talons. Now, what caused Nala to be tending her the past hour was because Cynthia was growing strong enough to sit up and wanted to go off on her own to find Zarabean. Unfortunately, Cy couldn't communicate this clearly for Nala, as her mind was still in the gutter and wouldn't allow her to form words. However, she did manage to say one word, that being, "Bean." While Nala and Janner were busy with Celeste, Cy took the opportunity to get up from the couch and sneak as best she could outside. She found it was difficult but not nearly as hard it was hours before. - The door to the room where Zarabean was being captive opened for the first time in hours. An older and greyer woman ridgerunner hobbled inside with her branch of a cane. Zarabean was sitting facing away from the door and he didn't bother to look to see who had just entered. He knew it was his mother by the sound of her heavy breathing. His mother wasn't a heavy ridgerunner like Pummi. She just had breathing problems in her old age, just like any human could have. "Beanie!" Zarabean's mother shouted with a huff. "My son, where have you been off to for the past few hears!?" Zarabean didn't reply to her. She hobbled over and poked him in the back with her cane through the bars. "Beanie! Look at me when I'm talking to you!" Zarabean glanced back at her, his eyes appearing red and puffy. He still said nothing to her. "Awe, Beanie..." She said when she saw her son was upset. "You know, the punishment shouldn't be so bad if I can convince them to-" "Is that why you think Zarabean is upset?" He asked with sorrow in his voice. Mother ridgerunner seemed surprised, "What else could you be worked up over? You're in a cage, son!" Zarabean let out a long sigh and leaned the back of his head on the bars as he looked up towards the top of the cage. "My friends could die and it's all because of Zarabean... my species." "Hey! They could survive..." His mom faded before twiddling her thumbs. "You know, the sedative isn't as 'poisonous' as it used to be... We found that killing farmers just decreased the amount of fruit..." "MOTHER!" Zarabean barked and looked back at her. "Do you not realize who they are?! Our people shot the Lore Wain of Anneria in the neck with a dart! She has to take care of an infant, the High King, who lost his parents in a tragedy. If she dies, their Kingdom could too!" "Don't yell at me!" His mother whined, "I didn't ask for this! You're the one that left us!" She started to cry. "Oh, why did you have to leave?!" Zarabean sighed, feeling both angry but also sad for making his mother cry. "Mom... I couldn't stay... I can't stay... Please, let me out." She was quiet a moment before sniffling with a gasp of breath. "I-I can't..."