As she and the others ran through the jungle, a thought entered Risha's brain, like an unwelcome guest:
What if something had happened to the boats? What if the island has destroyed them, or swallowed them up?
If so, they would all be up the creek without a paddle, for there was no way they would be able to swim all the way back to the ship.
Please, Risha prayed fervently in her head. If any of you Gods are watching this, do not abandon us in this place.
At last, they arrived at the beach, where the boats lay in the sand, just as when they had left them. Risha could almost jump with joy, but she feared that if she did, her legs would give out under her.
She was not the only one. Many of the others were exhausted from their long run. However, they barely had time to catch their breath, before the first-mate began to bark orders:
"No time to rest yet, men! Get these boats in the water, now!"
"Wait!" Risha called out. "What about Kyros?"
The First-Mate shook his head.
"Look at the sky, we still have an hour, maybe two 'til sunrise and who knows what might happen in the meantime? Our enemies might decide to stop squabbling among themselves and come after us."
"So, you're just going to abandon him ? After he made sure that we could get away?"
"That was his choice. I have to think of the safety of everyone here."
"It's mostly your own safety that you think of" the lynx said, with scorn in her voice. "Back in the jungle, you seemed all too relieved when the leader of those savages told us that they would let us go in exchange for Merees."
"How dare you?" The First-mate growled. "Your attitude is starting to try my patience, lynx."
"Your cowardice is beginning to try mine" Risha growled in retort.
The Two of them each took a step forward and for a moment, it looked as if they were about to come to blows, when Merees stepped between them.
"Both of you, stop it."
The Dragon-Princess did not even raise her voice. Yet, such was the authority found within it, that the two antagonists immediately obeyed .
"For shame, you two." Merees scolded them,as they looked at their feet like a pair of abashed children. "This is no time to bicker amongst ourselves. Now, if Kyros waited to leave the clearing until after the last of us were already gone, then he must not be that far behind. Surely, we can wait at least another ten minutes?" She asked, turning to the first-mate.
"I suppose" the first-mate grumbled. "However, if there's any sound coming from over there (he pointed at the jungle) that signals the approach of those damn bats, we leave. At once."
"Agreed. Risha?"
Despite her current feelings of animosity towards the first-mate, Risha had to admit that what he said was not without reason.
"Fine" she sighed.
"Great" Merees said, satisfied. "Incidentally, does anyone carry a timepiece?"
A member of Kyros' group had one and so, they all settled down to wait for the mountain-lion to arrive.
By now, the island had settled down, most certainly recuperating from the wounds that Risha and Kyros had inflicted upon it. If they hadn't already been told, none of those present at the beach could have guessed that they were standing (or sitting) on a living entity.
But they did know and that knowledge did nothing to alleviate the unease they all felt.
Every once in a while, they looked back at the jungle. From deep within it, they could hear voices; the bats, still caught up in their own dispute.
Suddenly, a new noise appeared on stage, one that silenced all the others. It was a high-pitched shriek and when those on the beach heard it, their blood run cold.
In its wake came another sound, even more disturbing than its predecessor.
That of wings, coming closer.
This time, there was no arguing, knowing the danger that was approaching, everyone scrambled to their feet and with a collective effort, got the boats in the water. Moments later, the splashing of oars in water could be heard.
In the second boat, Merees tried her best to comfort Risha.
"We had no other choice" she said, touching the lynx's shoulder. "You mustn't blame yourself."
"Who should I blame then? The First-mate? Or you?"
A sting had snuck into Risha's voice as she asked that last question, but Merees took no notice of it. Or at least, she pretended not to.
"Would it make you feel better?" She asked gently.
Risha was just about to reply that no, it wouldn't, when someone let out a cry:
"Look!"
Everyone looked in the direction the person who had yelled was pointing. Though the distance between the boats and the island had grown with each stroke, they could make out a figure on it, currently under attack by a quartet of island-dwellers.
"It's Kyros" one of the crew announced, quite unnecessarily. "Poor sod, he's done for."
"No, he's not" Merees said. "Stop the boat" she commanded.
The Rowboat came to a halt. So did its twin, which was a bit further ahead, but whose passengers were equally curious as to what the Princess was intending to do.
Merees stood up, just as the boat was rocked by a wave, causing her to lose balance. Risha reacted promptly, wrapping her arms around Merees' waist.
Lynx and dragon smiled at each other.
"Thanks, hon" Merees said.
"No problem. I figured that you weren't planning on taking a bath. Your magic's back I take it?"
"Yes. I know a spell which should allow us to save our friend. It requires focus on my part though, so...."
"Say no more, we'll keep our traps shut. Right, guys?"
Everyone agreed and silence settled over the rowboat. Turning her attention back to the island, Merees took a deep breath. She had not told Risha and the others that the last time she had just been a child when she had last attempted to cast this spell and said attempt had not been crowned with success.
This time, things will be different.
Sending a silent thought to her long-deceased tutor in the magic arts to watch over her, Merees took a deep breath and began...
*****
On the beach, Kyros continued his fight against the bats. A fight which, although he did not like to admit it, was not going well for him. The Mountain-lion was an experienced warrior, but his opponents both outnumbered him and had the advantage of flight.
Shutting his ears to the bats' taunting, Kyros concentrated on blocking their attacks, as best as he was able. In the corner of his eyes he could see the boats, way out there. He might be able to swim out to them and if not? Well, drowning would most certainly be a quicker and less painful death than whatever his foes had in store for him.
Not that the bats were going to let Kyros choose. They kept circling around him, cutting off his escape route.
Did Kyros blame the others for not having waited? No, if anything, he blamed himself. Leaving the leader of the bats alive had been a mistake. Still, the leader had been unconscious at the time and Kyros could not bring himself to slay a defenseless enemy. He had done that, many years ago and had vowed to never repeat the experience.
Of course, he might have been able to reach the beach in time, if not for the briar patch which he had fallen into.
Bah, no point in ruminating on what could have been. Face it all, old boy, it looks like this is your final stand.
That's when Kyros' feet left the ground and, to the astonishment of his foes, he began to drift out over the ocean, like some sort of feline cloud.
While at first, Kyros was just as taken aback by this new development as the bats, it didn't take long for him to figure out what was going on. Obviously, magic was involved and Kyros could think of only one member of the expedition who would be able to perform a feat such as this.
Under any other circumstances, the mountain lion would likely have profited from the experience. How often was it that one of the wingless races got the chance to soar through the skies? At the moment, however, he was too exhausted to enjoy himself. All he could do was trust that Risha's lady-friend knew what she was doing.
*****
"Almost...there" Merees grunted through clenched teeth.
As Merees worked her magic, Risha gazed up on her in quiet admiration. Admiration which was only increased by the fact that her beloved was obviously struggling, her forehead shiny with perspiration and her breath coming in short bursts.
Despite this, Merees persisted, moving her arms as though she was pulling on an invisible line.
Risha hugged Merees tighter, both to communicate her support, but also in the hope that somehow, some of her strength would be added to that of the Princess' own.
That's when the 'line' snapped. There was a splash and Merees staggered backwards and collapsed on top of Risha.
The Lynx extracted herself from underneath Merees. The Others were leaning over the side of the boat, looking in the direction where Kyros had fallen.
"He hasn't come up yet" one of them said.
"He wasn't that high up in the air. Surely, he could not have drowned."
Risha only listened with half an ear to the conversation around her. She was focused on trying to comfort Merees, who was lying on her back, breathing heavily.
"Failed again" the daughter of King Sharan mumbled weakly.
"You did your best, babe" she said, patting the dragon's hand.
"Maybe, but my best wasn't good enough and this time, it may have cost a good cat his life."
"No-one is going to blame you" Risha tried to reassure her. And if they do, they'll have to deal with me, she thought.
They were all about to give up hope, when suddenly, Kyros' head broke the surface. A cry of cheer shook the boat and the next moment, the mountain-lion was helped into the boat, tired, wet, full of scratches, but alive.
"What was that you said about your best not being good enough?" Risha asked, nudging Merees with her elbow and smiling cheekily.
"Just don't ask me to do it again" Merees said, with a smile of her own.
****
In his quarters, the Captain had just finished listening to his first-mate's recounting of the events that had taken place on the island. Risha and Merees were also present, but not Kyros, who was being patched up by the Ship's medic.
"That's quite a story" he said, sucking thoughtfully on his unlit pipe. "I'm glad you got out of that place in one piece."
"Sir, shouldn't we make a report of this island in the next harbor? The First-mate asked. "So that other sailors might know to avoid it?"
"We will, but I fear that not many would believe us. No, other people will set foot on that island and some of them will not be as fortunate as you were."
Later, as they laid in bed together, Risha turned to Merees:
"Mer, there's something I've been meaning to ask you."
"What is it?"
"If Kyros and I had not wounded the island, would you have accepted the bat-leader's offer? To become the next sacrifice in exchange for our lives?"
"I would have" Merees said, after a moment's pause. She stared up at the ceiling. "My father once told me that the needs of many outweighs the needs of the few, or the one. I would laid down my life to say you all, but mostly to save you."
"But you wouldn't have saved me" Risha protested. "Because I would have stayed with you."
