Part 21 - What Does the Penguin Say? Kua, Kua, Kuaaaaa!

When I return, Araja is just leaving! "Wait!" I shout but she keeps going. The nerve! I turn to Isaac, "Now what? Are you going to leave too?" I say with concern. Besides Isaac, it was only him and me now. Our party was rapidly dissolving. We weren’t sure where Gideon made off too. Maybe he was in trouble with his deity again? Would I ever see him again? At least Araja was kind enough to leave a note, I guess.

“We'll be ok,” Isaac says less then comfortingly, and I soon discover why, “I'm going to try something a bit... risky.” Wha-wha-what?  “If things don't go so well you should use Hubert's last wish to undo the misfortune.” Isaac unbuckles Hubert from his waist and hands me the sword, scabbard and all. I don’t know what he’s talking about. I look from Isaac, to the sword, and back again, confused. And then, he pulls out a seemingly mundane hat and puts it on.

I watch intently as a look of stern concentration crosses over Isaac's face. A moment passes, long enough for a look of triumph to begin spreading across his face. And then…he keels over.

"Isaaaaac? ISAAC???" I drop Hubert in time to catch Isaac before he falls over. I ease him to the ground as best a 16 year old girl does a skeleton.

Suddenly he turns to ash in my hands, leaving nothing behind. Body and gear alike are consumed. No bones, no clothing, nothing is left behind! Nothing except the wretched hat!

"No! No! Hubert? No!" I cry. I didn’t know what to do, torn between the ash, the sword, the dissolution of the party, and…I was alone!

The Luggage leaps over to where Isaac once was, sniffing, like a dog looking for its lost master. A few moments later, the Luggage begins hastily running off into the woods, following a trail only it can detect.

"Let’s follow him," I say mentally to Cutie-Pie. I start running after the Luggage as fast as my legs will allow, but even then it’s too fast. “Cutie-Pie!” I say in despair. The next thing I know the Asperi swoops down, whisking me off my feet, we speed after the Luggage, but still it is too fast. Soon we lose sight of it. I slap my leg, chagrined, “Lets go back!” I command, “We've got to find Hubert!" Hubert was the only hope. Hubert would undo the wrong and make things right again.

I leave Cutie-Pie in the trees and bolt for the sword. I unsheathe it, holding it skyward, “I wish for this misfortune to be undone!" I yell. I wait for something to happen, for the magic to start flowing, for the ash to turn to bone and flesh…but nothing happens.

“ I'm terribly sorry, My Lady,” I hear the sword say, “but I’m afraid it's too late. My powers can only change things that have happened very recently."

I drop the sword in shock. What have I done? What…have…I…DONE? I’ve failed him. I fall to my knees, my throat knotting with sobs, "ISAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAC!” I scream. I wanted him to hear me. I wanted someone, something to hear me as if my screams would write the wrong and bring Isaac back. I pound the ground with my fists, “EVERYTHING I KNOW – EVERYTHING I LOVE – TAKEN FROM ME! WHYYYYYYYY?” My sides heave and I cough as I inhale some dust. When the coughing fit ends, I lay on the ground, curled in a heap. The hat is conveniently ahead of me, as if purposely placed there. "Isaac?" I say again hoarsely.

Suddenly I’m aware I’m not alone. Melinda, speechless, babbles while pointing at the hat, and Kedra bows her head. A soft sob can be heard and Kedra’s shoulders seem to shake. "He was the only person to ever help me become a better person."

After some time and letting the shock settle in, we’re finally ready to move on. I collect Hubert and the hat, carefully, ceremoniously. "I really don't know what just happened to Isaac,” I say, “I can only hope for the best and that one day...we see him again. Araja - I mean, the General - has gone off to do some of her own investigating...I hope she will return safely as well. We should probably go back before it gets dark. I think the problem with the animated furniture has been solved."

We begin to walk when suddenly the weather changes. A huge thunder storm gathers and lightning begins streaking across the sky and large pellets of rain beat down upon us. Kedra and Melinda shout something to each other but it's inaudible over the storm.

Seconds later, a bolt of lightning strikes the ground in front of us, leaving behind a human in singed clothing and penguin on his back. They appear to be unconscious before us. The man is clothed in lots of fur, and leather

"What else could possibly go wrong?" I say dryly. "I think there's a beached seal lying over there," I shout to Kedra and Melinda while pointing toward the man. "He smells TERRRRRIBLE, like a horse stable that hasn't been mucked out in a month!"

The storm continues to rage. The rain turns into heavy hail "Help me get him to shelter!" I say to the others, "Oh and watch out for the, the, whatever that thing is." I point at the penguin. When I get no response I yell, “MELINDA! KEDRA! MOVE YOUR ASPERI'S! HELP ME!”

Kedra rushes in and heaves the unconscious man over her shoulder, pushing her way forward. "There's a cave over this way!" She shouts over the storm. "We use to use it as an ice house and quarantine area."

"QUARANTINE???" I shout back as I grab the penguin. The noise of the storm carries my words away and Kedra doesn’t seem to hear me. Melinda is running after her, but her short legs can’t carry her as fast. When I touch the penguin it turns to me and says:

I drop the penguin in fright and decide to chase after Melinda, "Cutie pie can you carry two?" I ask mentally, he’s there a moment later. I scoop up Melinda and hop on the Asperi’s back, "Follow that girl." I say, pointing ahead to Kedra.

Cutie-Pie flies ahead, unaffected by the wind, and we're able to catch up with Kedra. The penguin shuffles on, grabbing Cutie-Pie by the tale and swings along, merrily taking up the rear.