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 Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 5:24 am
 Joshua glanced at Narcis, but kept moving. 'He looks like if he stops, he won't start again. Just means we have to keep going. No stopping.' The teen moved through the deserted alleys and backways. The buildings were beginning to thin out, as they were nearing the edge of town. Soon, he could see trees up ahead. "Come on Narcis. We're almost there. Almost done. Just a little farther." They were about halfway now. All that was left was from here to the cliff itself. Though he wanted to stop and look for anyone, Joshua felt that would be a bad idea. Instead, he just plunged straight into the trees. 
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Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 8:19 pm
((Maybe standoffishness would have been a better word, though I don't think it is technically a word.... I meant when Rose was trying to be friendly and Narcis kind of rejected her attempts.....))
Rose tagged along, silently. She lagged behind a bit, playing the part of lookout. Every now and then she would pause to destroy any trace of their trail, just in case the aquarium owners were smart enough to send search dogs.
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Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 9:50 pm
((OOC: Oh, don't worry. He does that to everyone, even people he likes. 8P Yes, 'standoffishness' is a word, and a very good one.))
Narcis was beginning to feel the exhaustion turning to pain now - a sure sign that he was pushing himself too far. But he had no choice. They were so close now. He couldn't stop. Repeating in his mind, Getting closer. Getting closer, he kept following Joshua.
Gods, will I even be able to swim again? This weakness was alarming him. What good would it do Nezik if Narcis got them both into the water - and collapsed once he was in there? If he couldn't swim, he wouldn't be able to get the boy to safety.
Sorry, he thought. Nezik would call Sorry, and she would come. She could handle it once they were in the water. So all he had to worry about was getting there.
"You needn't...patronize me, Joshua," he managed between ragged breaths. "I know we are close." He also knew the boy was only trying to help, but he couldn't help it - when he was this close to simply giving out, everything rubbed him the wrong way.
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Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 5:28 am
Joshua glanced back at Narcis. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that." He spoke quietly, so as to not attract attention. He wasn't upset about the siren's comment, as he could hear that Narcis was pushing it. 'Maybe we should call Katalina.' He thought worriedly. The teen didn't know if the weariness would stay as Narcis changed shapes. He didn't voice the thought though, not wanting the siren to waste breath by verbally attacking Joshua.
The trees were beginning to thin out now and a roaring noise could be heard. 'There! That's the cliffs!' "Come on!" He said excitedly. The teen walked out to the small clearing that marked the top of the cliffs.
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Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 7:04 pm
Joshua was talking to the empty air. Right at the edge of the clearing, not even three yards from the edge of the cliffs, Narcis had simply collapsed to kneel. He could not manage even to get up again, and the look in his eyes as he stared at Joshua was one of blank suffering.
Moving painfully slowly, he let the bag slide off his shoulders. "Take him to the water," he rasped. "I...can't. Tell him...Sorry. Call Sorry." Then he stopped talking, focusing instead on breathing.
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Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 7:17 pm
Joshua cast Narcis a worried glance, but he didn't say anything. Somehow, he didn't think the siren would take it well. He didn't seem to be one who liked help. 'Katalina?' He stretched his mind as far as he could, searching for the mermaid. 'Katalina, we need your help. We're at the cliffs.' He was sure she would know where the cliffs were. After all, she lived nearby.
Joshua kept his mind open for a reply as he knelt beside Narcis. "I'll get him to the cliff." He murmured. It was obvious the siren wasn't moving for awhile. The teen grabbed the back and lifted it over one shoulder with a grunt. He moved to the cliff edge and opened the pack. "Nezik? Are you alright?"
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Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 8:14 pm
((( Wow you both move fast. XD So where are we may I ask? )))
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Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 8:47 pm
((OOC: XD We're at the cliffs. Narcis has just given out completely, and I guess Joshua is going to finish the rescue mission.))
Katalina started when she heard Joshua's voice. Already starting to move, she demanded, What? What? Joshua, do you have Nezik? Is he okay? Why didn't Narcis tell me? Did something go wrong? Is he all right? Are they both with you? She was asking questions one on top of the other even as she raced to the base of the cliffs.
Nezik blinked owlishly up at Joshua from inside the pack. "M'kay," he replied obscurely. "Okay. Is there water now? Did we make it?" Then concern shifted across his face, and he asked, "Narcis? Where is he?"
Narcis simply remained kneeling, looking both completely exhausted and somehow defeated. It had been successful, but he had not done what he'd told Sorry he would. He had not brought Nezik to the cliffs.
He had broken his promise.
For him, it didn't sit well.
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Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 8:51 pm
((( Is there anyone chasing them? Did Narcis made it to the cliff? )))
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Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 8:59 pm
Lucian was off distracting the workers while they rescued the captured creature. He eventually caught up with them at the cliff and noticed them both exhausted. Kneeling down in front of the Siren, he poked the cheek. “Well you allow me to help you?” he asked in a soft spoken voice. Lucian pushed Narcis’s hair away from his face and gave him a gentle smile. “No need to call for help when help is here…” (((Nevermind. XD )))
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Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 9:34 pm
((OOC: No, no one is chasing, and Narcis almost made it. Then he had to let Joshua take Nezik the last three yards or whatever. XD))
Narcis blinked up at him in a sort of exhausted confusion that would have been funny if it hadn't been so sad. "Is Nezik in the water yet?" he asked wearily, looking hopeless. He couldn't help but feel that it had all been for nothing, that it wasn't going to work out this time.
He didn't exactly answer Lucian's question, but that was all right. He didn't know how he was supposed to answer it anyway.
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Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 6:07 am
Joshua winced as the flood of questions piled into his mind. 'Katalina please! Calm down. I'll explain everything. We're at the top of the cliffs. Narcis is just completely exhausted but otherwise fine. Nezik is fine, though he probably needs water.' The teen glanced at Lucian and Narcis. He shook his head, not able to deal with them right now. 'The plan was to let Nezik jump from the cliffs, but there's some turbulence down there. Narcis also didn't trust him alone in the sea and was going to go with him. He's too tired to do that right now so we need you instead.'
Joshua decided to get Nezik out of the bag and ready for when Katalina arrived. "Narcis is fine." He told the merman. "Just tired. Katalina is on her way. I just need to get you out so that you're ready when she arrives. Now...." He debated the best way to get Nezik out. He quickly decided to lay the bag down and pull the merman out that way. He wasn't sure how much help Nezik would be. "I'm going to lay the bag on it's side." He warned the merman.
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Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 12:49 pm
Katalina surfaced at the base of the cliffs. Joshua, I'm here. Nezik can handle the turbulence - he's born to this. Toss them down - Nezik and Narcis both. If Narcis is exhausted, he's going to need our help. Her thoughts trailed off for a moment. When she started again, it was obvious that she didn't know that Joshua could still hear her. Narcis, you idiot. I told him to be careful! He said he'd be all right, but he always pushes it too far... Under the thin sheen of anger, the fear was evident.
As the bag was laid down, Nezik squirmed out enough to look around. His eyes widened when he saw Narcis. He opened his mouth, then looked back at Joshua. "I...Please," he said quietly. "Look after him. He's gone too far. Katalina doesn't know. He won't be able to swim like that."
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Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 1:50 pm
Joshua glanced from Nezik, to Narcis, then to the cliff. 'Katalina....We may have an issue. Nezik thinks Narcis won't be able to handle the water. He thinks Narcis has gone too far.' His brow furrowed in worry. This wasn't part of the plan. Still, they had to at least get Nezik down. He probably wouldn't last much longer, drying out like this.
"I will. Now, give me you arms. You're going over the cliffs." He held his arms out to the merman. 'Nezik is about to come down.' The teen warned Katalina. Nezik was the important person here. Narcis was still in human form, but the merman was another story....
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Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 2:53 pm
Katalina answered him with a string of words in her own language, but from the tone, it was easy to guess they weren't exactly the politest words in the merfolk tongue. When she calmed down, her voice was dryly sardonic. Of course he has. Narcis, Joshua, does not know the meaning of moderation. Now, throw Nezik down - I'll make sure he doesn't hit me in the head.
Nezik obediently held out his arms to Joshua, looking a little uncertain. "Someone will have to take him to the cove," said the boy softly, looking back at Narcis, who didn't seem to hear any of this. He opened his mouth as though to speak again, then instead just shook his head helplessly.
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