Angel threw herself down beside me after setting the ward around our camp. "I'm so tired. I could sleep for an entire century right now."
I was not as tired as she was. The reaping restored my energy loss and gave me more than needed. Leo appeared as if he woke from a long rest. It was hard to tell when he was exhausted. He didn't show it.
Redhead was in her tent. Even though we slept together last night, she gave us all the silent treatment today. Again, she assembled that damn small ass tent. I wanted to catch it on fire, so she couldn't use that thing anymore.
"What's for dinner?" I blew out. "Please don't tell me it's that nasty can stuff again."
Angel didn't even move. "We don't have anyone to cook, so yes, it's that can stuff."
Oh, hell no.
We had a cook. Red was going to do it. There was no way I was going to intake any of that nasty cold can shit.
I pushed to my feet. "I'm going to get Red. Leo, you make up the fire. We are going to eat something decent tonight."
As if the witch timed me, she emerged from her tent wrapped in a small pink towel. The lower end of her butt cheeks was sticking out for the world to see. She didn't have to bend all the way down for those behind her to catch a glimpse of what was under that thing.
The witch didn't spare us a glance but headed for the stream.
Angel folded her lips into her mouth. "Well, good luck with that."
I didn't need luck.
Red glanced at me over her shoulder when I got down to her. She didn't acknowledge me but rested her shower gel on a rock.
"I want you to cook," I announced. "The rest of us can't do crap and we need you."
She remained quiet and continued to tend to her shower items.
"Scarlet," I griped.
She paused and looked at me. "Yes?"
I formed a T with my hands. "We are going back to time out. I'm hungry."
She examined my face. Before she could give an answer, something latched on to her leg and pulled her into the stream. The whole incident happened so sudden. It took my brain a while to process what was going on. When it did, I flashed into action.
I waddled and jumped into the water. The stream appeared narrowed and shallow. Under the surface, it was a different story. It was wider and deeper. I couldn't find the bottom. Smaller fishes and aquatic animals cruised by unaware of what transpired.
A gigantic fish had Red's ankle in his jaw, tugging her along. A trail of bubbles escaped from her mouth. She administered a series of hits to the animal's head. It didn't budge. It hung onto her. Blood trickled up the water, alerting the other creatures. The fish was taking her down into the bottomless stream. I swam after it, but the thing was just too fast.
An electrical current zapped through my fingers and a silver rope formed in my palm. The end wrapped itself around the fish's tail and tightened. I gripped the rope when it tugged. A glow of light appeared in Red's hand. A swirl of water occupied her hand when she slammed it down on the fish. The blast gushed water, shattering the magical rope, and thrust me to the surface.
I emerged and sucked in more oxygen before going back down. In that same moment, a larger fish bit into the fish that held Red. She was knocked from the mouth of the creature. Instead of swimming up, she wasn't moving. She sank deeper into the darkness.
The larger fish devoured the previous one with two bites. I kicked my feet, diving deeper. The fish finished its meal and turned its attention to Red.
My heart hammered in my chest. There was no way I could get to her before he did. I did the same rope trick as before. The end wrapped around the fish's head and hooked itself beneath its gills. I pulled, slowing down the animal. Its tail kicked faster, dragging me down with it. A hand touched me. Leo signaled he was here to help. He and I hauled the rope.
Frustrated, the beast turned to us. I motioned to Leo to get Scarlet while I distracted the creature. He showed me a thumbs up and swam away. I glided towards the fish. It spotted Leo and detoured towards him.
Damn it!
Without any other option, I took the yield of the beast's strength. Its power traveled through the water and entered my body through my palms. It stilled when all its strength was sucked from its body.
Leo caught Red's body and swam to the surface. The hope for peace was too good. Two ugly fishes with antennas came up on us fast. They slid through the water.
Frustrated, my harvesting instinct kicked in. Irritation blended with energy under my skin. The contrast in the water increased. The heat that emitted from my body pulled the aquatic creatures to me. All my frustration spread throughout the water while all the energy left every aquatic creature in the stream.
My heartbeat grew louder, drowning out every other sound. Power on top of power filled up my system. I gritted my teeth, holding all the energy. It lasted forever.
My chest burned.
I swam to the surface, sucking in air there. Leo and Red got back to the bank. Angel helped him with Red. She was still not moving. She couldn't have taken in much water. I dragged myself to the bank.
I didn't even see that she was nude. The blood spurting from the wound on her ankle held my interest. That was not the only thing. Her chest wasn't moving. We were not under for long, yet her skin had a bluish color.
My blood ran cold. Everything ceased to function.
My fingers burned to touch her. I crouched in front of her. Leo moved aside at my presence. I rested my palm on her chest between her breast.
She couldn't die. Not yet. Not until I fucking said so. It had to be by my hands.
An electrical current traveled from my fingers into her body. She jerked from the shock. Two more attempts and Scarlet was coughing up water.
We all sighed aloud.
"God," she groaned. "Did we kill it?"
Angel glanced at the stream. "You guys did more than that. Who wants fish for dinner? We have plenty."
Our gaze trailed hers. The various fishes floated on the stream surface. We could not have told it was a body of water if we hadn't been here to see it. The water was completely covered by fishes.
Scarlet coughed-laughed. "Not tonight, but we can pack some for tomorrow."
A solid plan.
Redhead moved and hissed.
"Easy," Leo reached out to her. "You are hurt."
She tittered. "Oh, right. I'm starting to feel self-conscious about being naked in front of all you people."
A small smile curled my lips. "I'll bring you to your tent." I lifted her in my arm. "Angel, I need a bigger tent."
"On it," she answered right away.
Before I got to the tents, Angel managed to set up one for Scarlet. I had no problem entering it with Red in my arms. A bed was in the corner. I rested Redhead on it. Angel came in moments later with clean clothes for Red and me with a black ointment to rub on her ankle. She didn't tarry but left after.
I changed out of my wet clothes, then helped Scarlet to get clothed and dressed her foot. The fish's teeth were sharp. Its tooth was in the wound. A large hole remained in Red's foot when the tooth was removed. I filled the holes with the black ointment and packed clothes under her foot to have it elevated.
Hunger was the thing of the past when I got on the bed and laid with her. We remained that way, listening to Angel and Leo outside the tent.
"I have cookies in my backpack," Scarlet murmured.
I left the sentence to linger in the air. Her backpack was in the corner of the tent. The thing held a decent amount of cookies and biscuits with water and two juices. How so many things were held in such a small bag was puzzling.
I grabbed four of the packs of cookies and a bottle of water. Two was for her while two was for me. She ended up sharing hers with me. Her fluctuated shivering had me laying beside her and snuggling her into my arms. She didn't complain but curled into me.
"Thanks for saving me," she expressed. "I thought you would have left me to die."
I hugged her tighter. "Why would I not save you? I promised you I will get my revenge for Kyleon. How can I get my revenge if you are already dead?"
"Makes sense," she noted.