Star Dust

Chapter 19 ~ Gryphon

 The biggest thing out there, right now is a lone dwarf planet that Andrew called Clort, he also said that it was named after one of the space clans that no longer exist. Hours ago Mystery had her freak attack. Now me and Katie are cooking a lazy dinner for those stationed in a fixed spot like Dylan who refuses to leave Mystery's unconscious side and Andrew who is directing the ship to our next destination along a route with more danger than space. Matthew is asleep in his quarters ignoring everyone and everything, the stubborn male probably won't move until I throw the food into his stupid face. 

 A sound like metal being dropped on metal, rings throughout the ship, we both look jump up at the same time giving each other puzzled expressions before assuming it was Matthew or Dylan dropping something. We turn back to our pot of vegetables but another thud sounds, this time it was more like a door being slammed. Masculine yells make the walls slightly shudder, I can see concern in Katie's eyes, the sounds all coming from the training room. Again.

 Rushing out, me in the lead I catch little of what Andrew calls, but Katie did, not looking around to see what was happening behind, I thunder on. Bursting into the cavernous training room prepared to battle Mystery once again only to find another person in her place. Obviously not asleep against the wall, fighting furiously against the newest threat is Dylan trying to place blow after blow upon the half naked leader of the hunters.

 "who are you" Katie shouts, I debrief her quickly "bad guy who wants Mystery and all associates dead" she peels her eyes away from the two fighting "why is he half naked?"

 I look her in the eye "for mine and Matthew s amusement... we've met once before" she nods understanding. I screech making the hunter whip his head around to address the newest threat, but is cut short when my claws rake his bare flesh. Pushing Dylan to the ground and adding a monstrous kick he bears his mangled flesh at me only placing one hit to my stomach. Katie lands a solid kick to his back, causing him to bellow and curse, as he scrambles backward away from us. 

 A blurry shape speeds into the room barreling into the Hunter, wheeling his sturdy head around surprisingly not getting whiplash, he finds that Mystery was the mound of flesh he was thrown back by. In one swift movement he had his meaty limbs around her neck, preparing to snap it "the general said 'dead or alive' so make your choice dead or alive?" He sneers at us, knowing that the cards have fallen in his favor. Dylan stopped right where he was.

 We all stop in our tracks thinking hard on what to do next, when "Dylan!" Matthew asks, Dylan doesn't move but says calmly "alive." I snap my wrists catching his arms and wrists with my newly developed whip with a sickening crack. Mystery drops to the ground like a rag doll no longer supported, Katie rushes to her aid while I keep the hunter on his toes. 

Just then the radio constantly stationed at Dylan s hip blared in Andrew s voice " meteor shower, everyone hang on... SHIT!" cries the radio in Andrew s voice. Something large and very heavy hit the side of the ship, hard.

 Glancing back Dylan gives us a nod and races to the pit to help Andrew. Suddenly the ship rocks hard to the left throwing us into the wall, then across the room to the other wall, Mystery is casting around limp and in a constant state of unconscious bruising, helpless to the driving skills of whoever is at the controls. With nothing to grab we are at the mercy of our friends. 

 The hunter regains his balance only to be thrown to the opposite wall, and I have an idea, so I take off my sweater, but am cut short by another wall. A scream rips itself from my mouth as my wings collide with the wall. Ripping off the rest of the sweater I spread my wings with Katie s arm in hand and jump up, flapping strong so I remain in the middle of the tumbling ships training room. The pain in my wing is almost unbearable.

 I find our attacker a little too late as he crashes into me knocking both of us to the wall Katie now being used as a temporary floor. He holds firm to my ankle even when the other smashes into his skull, repeatedly, so with no other option I twist and turn to shake of the Hunter. The ship lists once more but I am prepared with a new plan as the galaxy slows down. 

 When we hit the wall this time it was different, this time I landed on my feet on top of the Hunter s chest with him knock out by the force of the blow. Katie tumbled out of the way and a voice breaks out above the roar of blood I hear Dylan over the radio I keep at my side "we made it out of the meteor shower, is everyone ok?" Dylan asks us even if he can't hear our response. Andrew barrels into the training room looking around then casting his gaze to the floor "I always miss the action" down cast he comes in to help.

 Andrew moves to dispose of the leader Hunter s body in the small disposal unit we have. Katie on the other side is turning over Mystery in search of injury, but find none so she moves to check me then Andrew. I leave immediately after telling her I wasn't hurt but she insisted that I lay down and rest, I thought She should know me better than that by now? I leave the training room and head to the cockpit to yell at dylan.

  Stopping at Matthews door I shout "hey, you up!" I open the door and yell into Matthew s dark room "Matthew you alright!" No answer comes, I don't even hear his breathing. Flicking on the light I gasp.

 "Katie, come quick, Mathews hurt, hurry!" I shout sticking my head out the door, pulling myself back in I pick up the unconscious body of Matthew, who looks perfectly fine except for a large bloody gash on his forehead. Pounding footsteps come thundering down the hallway and stop just outside the adjacent room door. Katie practically throws me aside and starts yelling "grab the first aid kit!" but before I can act Andrew has fled the room and returns a few seconds later with the first aid kit. 

 "he must of hit his head when we entered the meteor shower" Andrew says before being shushed by an agitated Katie playing the role of kid doctor again.

 "he'll have a mild concussion, but he won't need stitches" I release a breath I didn't know I was holding. 

 Dylan walks in "I think it is time that we stop at a hospital for a while" Katie doesn't bother to hide her excitement to set down and visit a real hospital. 

 "Ah hem, current patient bleeding Dr. Rowen" I say rudely, not letting her excitement endanger the life of anyone of my my friends however much I may dislike him.

 "oh, yeah" she says gloomily, out of the blue her head swivels left and right, then she remembers "Gryphon run, the food is burning!" I dash out of the room and stumble down the hall to the burning food. Swinging open the kitchen door, it only takes a few moments for me to realize, I'm surrounded by smoke. 

 Covering my mouth I cough thinking Come on Gryphon, you're a smart girl, what can we do? Suddenly, flames lick upward beside me, catching on my clothes. Batting madly at the flames crawling along my flesh I scream spreading arms wide, out stretched to stop the room that seems to be getting smaller and smaller. A whoosh sounds from everywhere and nowhere, but I do not dare open my eyes. Moments pass and I find myself breathing a little more normally, so curiously I couldn't keep them shut any longer.

 Before me is a swirling tornado of black smoke and flame that grows by the minute, the swirling mass presents a colourful array of tonight's dinner, smoke, and beautiful flames currently toasting the ceiling. Snap out of it! Pinching myself in the arm, I blink and move my raised left arm to the side a bit, the tiny tornado followed my movement.

 I direct the tornado to the disposal unit close to the sink, with my free hand I turn on the sink. Breathing easier now I can think a little clearer so I push the combination of tonight's ordeals towards the sink so they may be wiped clean of all grim. Steam rises but is quickly pulled back into the tiny tornado, now without flame and now I can see how much water was collected.

 I quickly lose control of the twister as it sprays me with blackened sludge and most of dinner, cooled by the freezing water that swirled and shot water out at an increasing speed. My arms fly out at command and the mass moves towards the disposal unit again, then in the next instant it is gone swallowed by its depths. The rest of our small kitchen is covered in blackish brown sludge that drips from everywhere.

 I stomp out not caring for the mess that I left behind and I disappeared into the bathroom so I can shower, riding myself of the grim that covered my slightly shaking body. I am officially worn and exhausted.