Maryke Jimenez
There are often times when we get that deep forboding. That little twinge of butterflies or a fast beating heart that says something isn't right here. Nothing that could be named, but just a little something that raises a red flag in your gut and tells you s**t's about to go down. Unfortunately for Maryke, that center of her brain was on a temperary hiatus. At the moment she felt no sense of dread, only a zest for some fresh air like she'd been feeling since her last change. The trees beckoned her the way that cold hard cash used to get her all riled up. But things changed, and so did people. Cause if you weren't able to adapt you'd be consumed, spit up, and left for some scavenger to finish off.
And Maryke was the Queen of adaptation. Currently she was high in the tree tops on one of her favorite trees, overlooking Billy's. And she had plans for her lake monster boyfriend, big ones. She'd thought about it for a few days now, well aware of the holiday that was coming up. And why shouldn't they have themselves a little fun? Now that Aubrey (seemingly) was out of the way that meant that Maryke could just, well just live life. Was that so much to ask for? Considering her past life and the horrible state of affairs she was in now..... Hell yes.
But in any case, today was looking up. It'd be a good day she just knew it. And after she spent a few hours in the trees, she'd spent most mornings in them now adays, she'd go back to her place and get the needed supplies for him. Funny how her whole attitude on the opposite sex changed like that. Before the island the only men in her life were the ones she'd hired to do her garden, or carry her bags at that airport, or any other bit of grunt work, and the only 'boyfriends' if you could even call them that were for show or money anyway. But now things were different, SHE had changed. Billy wasn't some easy bit of cash, or pretty boy to show off. He was just...just Billy. And for the former madam now lemur, that was saying something.
Yes, Maryke was quite the pro at adapting.
Alexa Drew Summers
The confines of her duplex were nothing compared to the grandeur of the island's natural beauty. She seemed to have gotten the best of both worlds: living in luxury's lap inside her residence, and being able to have the most gorgeous views outside. She stood there for a moment, noting that no one was really around. Maybe there was a class or an event or some such going on. At any rate, she spotted a dirt path. It looked like it might be headed towards the ocean, and she was already wearing her black bikini. Maybe it was time to test the waters a bit... or at least lay on the beach. Her beach towel and other supplies were in her room, but that didn't mean she couldn't check it out!
Working her way toward the path, she started into the foliage. It was gorgeous, and the afternoon sun was beating down through the leaves to paint a pattern across her skin. She could hear the ocean as she walked along, growing ever closer with each passing step. She had to keep her head down just in case a stray rock appeared in her path. She didn't want to trip and injure a fragile ankle and be unable to do anything in her first few weeks of stay! She didn't hear much in the way of animals besides the occational bird call and a rustling in the trees from a slight breeze. This was perfect, and the shade was dense here as well, keeping the hot sun off her face until the right moment.
Working her way toward the path, she started into the foliage. It was gorgeous, and the afternoon sun was beating down through the leaves to paint a pattern across her skin. She could hear the ocean as she walked along, growing ever closer with each passing step. She had to keep her head down just in case a stray rock appeared in her path. She didn't want to trip and injure a fragile ankle and be unable to do anything in her first few weeks of stay! She didn't hear much in the way of animals besides the occational bird call and a rustling in the trees from a slight breeze. This was perfect, and the shade was dense here as well, keeping the hot sun off her face until the right moment.
Maryke Jimenez
It wasn't an overbearing sound, though it was A sound. One that drew the lemur woman's attention. Two ruffed ears flickered back as she continued to hear the leaves crunching underneath the weight of something. Though it didn't sound harsh, more subtle. Instinct told her it wasn't something to be feared, but considering how great her fear of Jamal ran she wasn't stupid enough to just throw caution to the wind. She wanted to know where the sound was coming from, but not at the risk of making herself known just yet. She shifted from her postion, tail held high to keep her balance in check as she jumped onto the branch just below, stopping and listening once more.
Again she heard the sound, so she moved down onto the next branch and then another, finally a few feet above Alexa, but the trees were too thick for the human woman to have seen anything. And now Markye knew that it was just a human woman. Funny how she now knew the newbies of the island to be 'human people'. Well life was full of nasty little tricks like that, now wasn't it. But........her wet nostrils flickered and her head snapped in a tilt, much more then any human or most other animals could ever accomplish. Wait a minute.....that smell....so familar....it smelled like... like her own damn perfume. The one she'd always favored. But that couldn't be right, Maryke ran out months ago and the only other bottles in her possesion was miles away back in LA.
But, No, no that smell was distinct. And so was the noise, the human woman....then it hit her.
Son of a b***h..........she's here!
Alexa Drew Summers
She moved along slowly, taking in the exotic air of it all. Her feet continued to softly tread over the path, keeping a slow but steady cadence. She stretched her shoulders back and yawned casually, sliding her sunglasses over her eyes to protect her. Though in the jungle coverage, she was well shaded, the sun still came through in bright patches which stung her eyes.
For a moment, she thought she heard something more than the simple rustling in the breeze. She hesitated in her step, looking around. She then shrugged it off. It was probably some island rodent rushing around in the tree tops to gather nuts, or a result of one of the lovely bird calls the island had to offer. She continued on, completely oblivious to the fact that something was in the trees and it could smell her.
For a moment, she thought she heard something more than the simple rustling in the breeze. She hesitated in her step, looking around. She then shrugged it off. It was probably some island rodent rushing around in the tree tops to gather nuts, or a result of one of the lovely bird calls the island had to offer. She continued on, completely oblivious to the fact that something was in the trees and it could smell her.
Maryke Jimenez
She was pissed. Maryke wasn't sure if it was some kinda of freakish act of poor luck (which she doubted) or someone trying to d**k around with her. But SOMEBODY had the audacity to bring the one person she didn't want to be stuck here with, here! She sniffed the air again. And the little rat was wearing her perfume to boot. She slinked down further, still high above Alexa but low enough to where her voice could be heard. And she definately wanted it heard.
"Alexa....." the voice cooed as Maryke leaned across the length of a branch, making sure the tree's foliage covered up most of herself, save for a few glimmers here and there. "How nice of you to come...."
Alexa Drew Summers
Alexa had her mind set on the crystal clear waters she'd seen before they landed. The white sand would be hot on her toes and she couldn't wait to feel it. She bet it was super fine. She had almost completely forgotten she was here on account of Maryke, and that she was going to go visit her later that night. However, upon hearing a familiar voice, she stopped dead in her tracks.
Looking around, she frowned. She didn't see Maryke anywhere. She wasn't ahead, and she wasn't behind her, and Alexa knew she certainly couldn't be in the jungle woods. "Where are you?" She called, her muscles tensing with sudden fear. Something was wrong here, she could hear it in her madam's voice. That was the thick lacing of her sarcasm, and not her pure joy.
Looking around, she frowned. She didn't see Maryke anywhere. She wasn't ahead, and she wasn't behind her, and Alexa knew she certainly couldn't be in the jungle woods. "Where are you?" She called, her muscles tensing with sudden fear. Something was wrong here, she could hear it in her madam's voice. That was the thick lacing of her sarcasm, and not her pure joy.
Maryke Jimenez
"Above you, as always," she sneered. Her words coming out like arsenic that she hoped Alexa would do nothing but choke on. She had forgotten she was only in the trees for a short while before she headed 'home' to make preperations for her meeting with Billy. Now the only thing her mind's eye was bent on was bittersweet revenge. Sure she hadn't really KNOWN Alexa to have done something wrong, other then twist her head around and confuse her. So much so that Maryke had shared an intimate moment with her debutante and muttered three words no sane woman should utter in a position such as her.
But this was after the fact. "How did you manage to find me here?" she asked, casually. As if everything was just peachy ******** king. Like they really weren't both heading to hell in a handbasket with Moreau at at the wheel.
Alexa Drew Summers
Above? Immediately, Alexa looked up so quickly her glasses nearly fell from her face. Pushing them back to their correct position, she squinted up at the treeline. She could see a few tufts of black and white fur amongst the leaves in one spot, but nothing more. She listened, wrinkling her nose in utter disgust. Valentine's Day surprise her a**! Maryke didn't even know why she was here?! Aubrey had lied to her afterall! What a dirty trick.
"I didn't find you, I assume the letter I recieved wasn't from you though." She said with utter disgust, not taking her eyes off the furry figure. "Where the hell are you?!" She yelled, gritting her teeth in frustration. She'd been duped, and as queer as it sounded, even seeing Maryke while arguing would be soothing enough to put her jittery nerves to rest, at least partially.
"I didn't find you, I assume the letter I recieved wasn't from you though." She said with utter disgust, not taking her eyes off the furry figure. "Where the hell are you?!" She yelled, gritting her teeth in frustration. She'd been duped, and as queer as it sounded, even seeing Maryke while arguing would be soothing enough to put her jittery nerves to rest, at least partially.
Maryke Jimenez
She chuckled, clearly amused. "Nope, wasn't from me. I have a few ideas of who sent it though. And knowing the pathetic waste you are, you followed," she continued. Every word, every note riddled with how bitter she was. "Oh Lexa....I thought that blind puppy act woulda outgrown you by now..."
She figured it was Aubrey, it didn't take a genius to guess it. That rotten b***h! Obviously the pregnant woman wouldn't bide over that easily. But that was fine, it was all well and good even. Maryke wouldn't let that get to her, minus the fact that she was so agitated right now. Her ruffed ears flattened against her skull and her fur stood on end while the silky black tail thrashed and beat the leaves behind her. So many thoughts were going through her brain. For one Alexa was HERE. That alone brought a whole mess of complications, not to mention the fact that some cheap shot doctor was so desperate for attention she was now screwing over Maryke to get it. Once again she reminded herself just to breath.
"I already told you where I am," she said smoothingly. In a flash she lurched and jumped forward, landing on a branch in the opposite tree, too quickly for Alexa to have made sense of the black and white blur. "Maybe if you ask nicely I'll let you sneak a peak."
Alexa Drew Summers
Alexa frowned, slowly trying to piece things together. So Aubrey had something against Maryke... but what? It actually wasn't all that difficult to be angry with Maryke, considering how she acted. She supposed it made sense, and wasn't going to ask any more questions. Not about that, anyway. She ignored Maryke's taunts, knowing it was just her bitter shell from how the two had parted. She didn't mean the words, so Alexa took them as nothing more than hollow threats.
Alexa's eyes never left the creature in the trees. By now she had figured out that it was Maryke, but beyond that she wasn't sure. She knew the madam liked to wear furs, but that didn't seem to be what she was doing now. When she leapt over the younger girl's head, her eyebrows furrowed deeper together in confusion. It was simply a flash of black and white fur. Nothing more. Something was wrong here. Her attention turned back to the injection mark left on her arm from the hour previous. It was a vaccination... all shots left small side effects... she could still feel ghost tremors of chills and warm tingles, but perhaps they were real. She couldn't distinguish. By now she was growing more and more frustrated, nervous, and downright frigthened.
Maryke hated the outdoors, especially trees, so why was she in one? And why was she hopping from tree to tree like that? That was almost... inhuman of her. "Come down here, Maryke, stop shitting around." She called, mustering up her anger over her fear to speak firmly.
Alexa's eyes never left the creature in the trees. By now she had figured out that it was Maryke, but beyond that she wasn't sure. She knew the madam liked to wear furs, but that didn't seem to be what she was doing now. When she leapt over the younger girl's head, her eyebrows furrowed deeper together in confusion. It was simply a flash of black and white fur. Nothing more. Something was wrong here. Her attention turned back to the injection mark left on her arm from the hour previous. It was a vaccination... all shots left small side effects... she could still feel ghost tremors of chills and warm tingles, but perhaps they were real. She couldn't distinguish. By now she was growing more and more frustrated, nervous, and downright frigthened.
Maryke hated the outdoors, especially trees, so why was she in one? And why was she hopping from tree to tree like that? That was almost... inhuman of her. "Come down here, Maryke, stop shitting around." She called, mustering up her anger over her fear to speak firmly.
Maryke Jimenez
"No shitting here, dollface," she said, sounding so much like the 'old Maryke' it was hard to pinpoint that something was seriously wrong here. Oh but something WAS wrong. So very wrong. "You want me to come out and play?" she cooed, shifting her weight once more, "well who am I to disapoint my favorite employee."
She finally showed herself, first standing to her full height on top of a tree branch, her tail slowly swinging back and forth before she walked out further. She enjoyed the look on Alexa's face, very much so. Without missing a beat Maryke jumped down, still several feet up in the air before latching onto the branch with just one mishapen monkey foot and hanging upside down from it. "Hello lover," she cooed, looking at her counterpart from an twisted angle. "Miss me?"
Alexa Drew Summers
Her hidden eyes never faultered from the black and white form in the tree as Maryke continued relentlessly to taunt her. She wasn't the same Maryke Alexa had known previously. That Maryke didn't have quite this much passion and rage in her. However, after what had happened between them, it was safe to say Alexa resurfacing in this place of all places was her worst nightmare. She watched as Maryke stood from the trees.
That... that thing was not Maryke. Not the Maryke she had known, at least! A thick ruff of fur shielded her voluptuous chest, two tufts of fur not yet linked around her chin hid what Alexa could tell were not human ears, her hair was changing colors, and worst of all... she had a tail.
She watched her act, knowing that Maryke had always been an exhibitionist. However, when she caught herself with one twisted foot, she could tell that this was no act. Maryke had actually literally been changed somehow, into this thing. It resembled a lemur or other monkey.
All things considered, Alexa was horrified. The monster hanging from the tree was anything but human. For the longest time, she could only stare like a child looking at a roadkill scene. Once her scattered thoughts began to pull back together, she opened her mouth, raising her sunglasses slowly as if they were creating the illusion hanging from the tree before her. "What... what.... what happened?"
That... that thing was not Maryke. Not the Maryke she had known, at least! A thick ruff of fur shielded her voluptuous chest, two tufts of fur not yet linked around her chin hid what Alexa could tell were not human ears, her hair was changing colors, and worst of all... she had a tail.
She watched her act, knowing that Maryke had always been an exhibitionist. However, when she caught herself with one twisted foot, she could tell that this was no act. Maryke had actually literally been changed somehow, into this thing. It resembled a lemur or other monkey.
All things considered, Alexa was horrified. The monster hanging from the tree was anything but human. For the longest time, she could only stare like a child looking at a roadkill scene. Once her scattered thoughts began to pull back together, she opened her mouth, raising her sunglasses slowly as if they were creating the illusion hanging from the tree before her. "What... what.... what happened?"
Maryke Jimenez
"What happened?" She sneered, still hanging above Alexa, "Isn't that easy to figure out? YOU happened!" With that she jumped down completely flipping and landing just mere inches from where the younger girl stood. her tail raised near her head though kept the thrashings that showed her agitation.
"You see, I've finallly figured it out," she continued, twisting her maw into an angry grimace of sorts. The lemur teeth showing full. It was only her eyes, those still human eyes that showed who she was underneath the muzzle and fur. Yet those eyes also made the change that much more horrifying. "If it wasn't for the s**t YOU pulled I wouldn't even be in this mess!" oh she was mad now, and she wanted so badly to hurt Alexa. Hurt her and kill her.
Alexa Drew Summers
Alexa was beyond frightened now. She felt her chest tightening around her painfully pounding heart. She wasn't sure what was worse for her: The fact that Maryke was an animal--monster--now, or that it was her fault. And it actually was her fault! When Maryke jumped down from the tree, Alexa took stiff, horrified shuffles backwards. Before long, an exposed root tripped her and she fell to her back, still trying to scramble away from her.
Those eyes. Those same hazels that Maryke had possessed back in LA. They had the same fire and rage in them, the same depths. To think that for one night she had stared into those eyes, caressed that once-human cheek, and told her a secret she could never tell anyone else! The thought repulsed her. She felt sick to her stomach; she just wanted to run. She closed her eyes, burying her face in her arms as she sat there, now balled up in the dirt on her side to avoid eye contact with the woman.
In any other instance, she would have fought back. She would have fought back hard. But she just couldn't. The tremors and shudders running through her body, accelerated by fear, were too much for her and all she could do was lay there and whimper, feeling her eyes fill with tears. Only one person could get her like this now that she was older, and that was Maryke. She hadn't lost her touch.
Those eyes. Those same hazels that Maryke had possessed back in LA. They had the same fire and rage in them, the same depths. To think that for one night she had stared into those eyes, caressed that once-human cheek, and told her a secret she could never tell anyone else! The thought repulsed her. She felt sick to her stomach; she just wanted to run. She closed her eyes, burying her face in her arms as she sat there, now balled up in the dirt on her side to avoid eye contact with the woman.
In any other instance, she would have fought back. She would have fought back hard. But she just couldn't. The tremors and shudders running through her body, accelerated by fear, were too much for her and all she could do was lay there and whimper, feeling her eyes fill with tears. Only one person could get her like this now that she was older, and that was Maryke. She hadn't lost her touch.
Maryke Jimenez
She took advantage of this new viewpoint and rushed forward, pinning Alexa's hands above her head in one quick swoop. "So here we are again," she cluckled, hitting her tongue against the roof of her maw. "Isn't this the way our fighting always ends, huh doll. Me on top? You crying your ******** eyes out?"
She narrowed her hazels, gripping her hold tighter, though still conscious of the fact that someone might be watching. The last thing she wanted was to be kissing dirt long enough for this b***h to get away. "Do you think I'm stupid," she growled, though it came out in a strange odd sort of bark. "Do you think I wouldn't know?"
Alexa Drew Summers
Alexa stared up at Maryke, now pinned on her back and exposed. Her hoodie was askew, exposing her bathing suit fully. She blinked back remaining tears, glaring up at Maryke. Alexa balled her hands into fists, relieving some of the tension around her slender joints. She was completely lost, her humanity seemed all but gone. Still, even though she was absolutely appalled and horrified about the entire situation, there was a soft spot somewhere in her.
It was telling her to do something she would never consciously admit to doing, but she did it anyway. Dragging one leg out from under Maryke, she got it around her and pushed her weight into it, getting Maryke to roll with her. Keeping one leg under her, cupping her lower back, she got Maryke onto her back and straddled her. Pressing her bare hands into the ground, she didn't let the monkey-like fingers release their grip the whole time. She glared down at her with a serious, intense gaze. "No." She said. By this time, she hadn't accepted what Maryke was, but rather knew it was still the same woman underneath. Something in her heart had a weakness for her, she couldn't fight it. "This is how it always ends." She hissed the words into the lemur woman's ear, knowing if she was really a lemur, she could catch the sound and the hidden tone of sweetness in it.
Alexa grinned slightly to herself before pulling back, staring into her eyes with another serious silence. They both knew she was right; she knew it somewhere in herself. It was just a matter of admitting it.
It was telling her to do something she would never consciously admit to doing, but she did it anyway. Dragging one leg out from under Maryke, she got it around her and pushed her weight into it, getting Maryke to roll with her. Keeping one leg under her, cupping her lower back, she got Maryke onto her back and straddled her. Pressing her bare hands into the ground, she didn't let the monkey-like fingers release their grip the whole time. She glared down at her with a serious, intense gaze. "No." She said. By this time, she hadn't accepted what Maryke was, but rather knew it was still the same woman underneath. Something in her heart had a weakness for her, she couldn't fight it. "This is how it always ends." She hissed the words into the lemur woman's ear, knowing if she was really a lemur, she could catch the sound and the hidden tone of sweetness in it.
Alexa grinned slightly to herself before pulling back, staring into her eyes with another serious silence. They both knew she was right; she knew it somewhere in herself. It was just a matter of admitting it.
Maryke Jimenez
Maryke laughed, high pitched almost cracking. It was like all the life had been sucked from her and she was at her breaking point. "That right?" Of course she could get free at any time. Easily over power the other and get out of this unwanted grasp. But she was bating her time, more nefarious things displayed in her brain.
"Did you ever stop to think that for one SECOND I never meant what I said?" she hissed, "Whatever it was, whatever you THOUGHT it was....it was a mistake. A big ******** mistake." Finally she pulled herself up with ease, her maw spewing out the hatred and bitterment that was still leftover in her hurt. Hell her whole life she'd known nothing but pain. Everyone needed an outlet.
"I know what you did," she said, moving about so that she was was in a squat her tail twisting around to slowly slink towards Alexa. "You turned me in........DIDN'T YOU?"
Alexa Drew Summers
Alexa could feel it, as if she was grasping something that was barely there anymore. Maryke was slipping. Slipping again. Last time, Alexa had managed to pull her out of it, but last time she was human. Now she was somehow transformed into this being. She didn't know how as of yet, but she knew it happened to her. This was a research facility... they must've done something to her. She just couldn't wrap her head around what.
She sat back as Maryke slipped out from under her, her bare legs pressed into the dirt. She watched her for a moment or two. No, this was wrong. She was just trying to break her, and she knew how to do it. Damnit, Alexa had to stop listening. She knew it was a lie. What she'd felt, what she'd seen in those all-too familiar hazels... the snuggles, cuddles... everything... that was real. Maryke couldn't lie her way out of this one. Before she could accuse her of lying, she was cut off.
Turned her in? Why would she turn her in. She was so surprised, her gaze softened for a moment. "What?" She tried to piece together what exactly Maryke was trying to say. Once she figured it out, she froze for a moment. How to work around this... how to convince her it wasn't as bad as she thought. "I did not turn you in." She said, and it was the truth. She hadn't turned her in or given her up... only said that Maryke had been involved with Mark Winters. She hadn't told them where she was, what she did... not even her last name as far as she could remember, but that was a long time ago. Her memory was fuzzy.
She sat back as Maryke slipped out from under her, her bare legs pressed into the dirt. She watched her for a moment or two. No, this was wrong. She was just trying to break her, and she knew how to do it. Damnit, Alexa had to stop listening. She knew it was a lie. What she'd felt, what she'd seen in those all-too familiar hazels... the snuggles, cuddles... everything... that was real. Maryke couldn't lie her way out of this one. Before she could accuse her of lying, she was cut off.
Turned her in? Why would she turn her in. She was so surprised, her gaze softened for a moment. "What?" She tried to piece together what exactly Maryke was trying to say. Once she figured it out, she froze for a moment. How to work around this... how to convince her it wasn't as bad as she thought. "I did not turn you in." She said, and it was the truth. She hadn't turned her in or given her up... only said that Maryke had been involved with Mark Winters. She hadn't told them where she was, what she did... not even her last name as far as she could remember, but that was a long time ago. Her memory was fuzzy.
Maryke Jimenez
"Don't ******** around with me you little s**t!" The words came out harsh, more so then even she knew they would. But damnit she was mad! She had every right to be! It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out, that before her was the reason for all her troubles. Alexa was the ONLY one who could have given the FBI ANY kind of information, other then Mark or Maryke themselves. And that was pointless as it was their a** the boys in blue were gunning for.
So it had to be Alexa. And nothing else would change her mind. "You RUINED my life!" she spat, now standing up. She balled up her fists, and her monkey feet even. Her eyes burned in intensity and all she wanted to do was to hurt her, hurt for every damn thing that had went wrong since her 'sweet escape'. Throw love to the side. She hadn't known if she ever loved the girl, sure she'd said it that one solitary time. But that didn't mean she MEANT it. And nothing, and nobody was going to convince her that she did.
"you ruined my ******** life!" she repeated, all the curses shot out to show and exagerate her anger. Her tail began to jerk away from alexa and then straight up in the air just as Maryke swung a fist down upon the girl while her teeth were beared with her feet still clenched. She did it again and went to do it a third time before she suddenly twitched. Her body stilled and her eyes rolled to the back of her head before she landed back down on the ground with a heavy thump.
Clearly unconscious.
Alexa Drew Summers
Alexa's eyes widened and filled with fear once again. Oh s**t. Maryke was coming after her. The anger in her was building, consuming her. Why, oh, why had Alexa come here? Poor Maryke had fallen subject to their research project, and Alexa might be more cannon fodder. And what was worse, Maryke was losing all sight of humanity and the rage was burning white-hot within her. Her body language screamed danger, but Alexa was frozen.
She couldn't run from her, not when she had the overriding feeling inside to run to her, capture her in her arms like she had that one night when the stress building up on her was too much for her to handle. Only now, this was Alexa's fault. All this trauma, all this passion and anger was her doing. Maryke was teetering on the edge, and Alexa was most likely the final push into oblivion. She watched her with shock as she actually raised a fist.
Sure, they'd physically fought before, but it always ended happy... at least, that one time it had. Those other times... no. She had managed that one time, their last time, to pull Maryke to say what they had both been feeling since the very beginning; that morning after the awful night Alexa spent in the rain. No matter what Maryke said, it was a lie. Alexa knew that this feeling that engulfed them and pushed them so far was love. Not passion, not anger, but love.
And she was so consumed by this revelation, and so focussed on convincing herself of this, that she didn't see the punches coming. One connected solidly across the arch of her cheekbone, and she fell back, snarling as the searing burn of the blow began to set in. The second missed, due to how she had retreated after the first. At the third attempt, Alexa's sudden flare of anger was sedated. Suddenly, Maryke was convulsing--and it looked painful. Before Alexa could figure out what was happening, Maryke was unconscious on the floor as if something had shocked her.
Great... what now? She couldn't just leave her here in the middle of the path. Someone would find her! Something bad might happen. If Maryke had been living up in the trees, she would be exposed here. Mustering up her strength, she rose and brushed herself off. She took Maryke under the arms--the only way she could manage--and began dragging her dead weight toward the clearing of the sand. Maybe a little ocean water would revive her. The going was slow, and Maryke was heavy while unconscious. Alexa settled for halfway down the beach, on the sand. She flopped down, exhausted by the effort. Maybe she could catch her breath for a moment before fetching the cool water to bring her back to her senses.
She couldn't run from her, not when she had the overriding feeling inside to run to her, capture her in her arms like she had that one night when the stress building up on her was too much for her to handle. Only now, this was Alexa's fault. All this trauma, all this passion and anger was her doing. Maryke was teetering on the edge, and Alexa was most likely the final push into oblivion. She watched her with shock as she actually raised a fist.
Sure, they'd physically fought before, but it always ended happy... at least, that one time it had. Those other times... no. She had managed that one time, their last time, to pull Maryke to say what they had both been feeling since the very beginning; that morning after the awful night Alexa spent in the rain. No matter what Maryke said, it was a lie. Alexa knew that this feeling that engulfed them and pushed them so far was love. Not passion, not anger, but love.
And she was so consumed by this revelation, and so focussed on convincing herself of this, that she didn't see the punches coming. One connected solidly across the arch of her cheekbone, and she fell back, snarling as the searing burn of the blow began to set in. The second missed, due to how she had retreated after the first. At the third attempt, Alexa's sudden flare of anger was sedated. Suddenly, Maryke was convulsing--and it looked painful. Before Alexa could figure out what was happening, Maryke was unconscious on the floor as if something had shocked her.
Great... what now? She couldn't just leave her here in the middle of the path. Someone would find her! Something bad might happen. If Maryke had been living up in the trees, she would be exposed here. Mustering up her strength, she rose and brushed herself off. She took Maryke under the arms--the only way she could manage--and began dragging her dead weight toward the clearing of the sand. Maybe a little ocean water would revive her. The going was slow, and Maryke was heavy while unconscious. Alexa settled for halfway down the beach, on the sand. She flopped down, exhausted by the effort. Maybe she could catch her breath for a moment before fetching the cool water to bring her back to her senses.
