Trial and Tribulation Copyright 1997 by Renee a.k.a. Alethea All "NiGHTS" characters and related indicia mentioned herein are copyright and TM by one or more of the following: Sega Enterprises, and/or Sega of America. Used without permission Etienne or "Eti" and related characters copyright Jeanette Merrell. Used without permission Dunamis, Alethea, Frost, Aldwyn, Nettle, Tarragon, Salpinx, Rhian, Talitha, and related characters, copyright Renee This document may be freely distributed as long as it is not modified in any way. Trial and Tribulation (Part 15) Jackle streaked down a hallway, furious that he had lost track of Salpinx. Jackle glanced over his shoulder down a nearby hallway. " Watch what you're doing!" He jerked his head around. Reala hovered above him. " Salpinx has escaped!" " What!" " I ran into him in the hallway a few minutes ago." Reala snarled. " That's no surprise. I'm only amazed that you didn't knock him senseless when you were tearing down the hall." Jackle glared at him. " Now, GET OUT OF MY WAY." " What are you going to do?" *Several minutes later* " He wasn't there." Alethea's eyes filled up with tears. Aldwyn drooped " It's not your fault. I shouldn't have suggested that we split up." Alethea started sobbing softly. " Let's go before someone comes." The two of them headed toward the front of the castle. " We'll use the gutter this time. Open windows are nice but ri sky" *** Reala flew ahead of the guards. Almost all of them were bristling for a fight. Reala tore through the main gate and stopped. He looked hastily for any sign of the rebels he knew were trying to get back inside, more than likely after Salpinx. He was REA LLY going to enjoy this. Reala made a mental note to have the guards on duty at the wall severely reprimanded. You could not afford such carelessness in a war. Several Nightopian troops shrank back in terror at this unexpected development. Frost stared and nearly shrieked. A 'maren cat whimpered. They sank down in their hiding places. *** Alethea scrambled out of sight, and Aldwyn called to her softly. " Hurry up! It's Salpinx!" He was barely able to keep from shouting. Alethea skidded on top of the ice to where Aldwyn was next to Salpinx. It looked like he was asleep. Aldwyn shook him and he whined. " Come on, wake up." Alethea looked at him. " Call one of the other troops to get him out of here. I think he's hypothermic." Aldwyn crawled to the very edge of the gutter and called to one of the troops. The troops stared at him horrified and glanced back toward the gate of the castle. Aldwyn g ave them a confused look. They shrank down behind their cover. A fist suddenly appeared from around the edge of the gutter and hit Aldwyn in the face with such force that it knocked him completely off the edge. He fell to the ground and landed face down w ith a thud. Aldwyn blinked and looked up. Reala hung in the air a few yards away sneering. Several guards headed toward Aldwyn. Reala, scoffing all the while, watched the dazed 'maren. Without warning a Snip sprang out from behind a rock and blew a stream of ice cold air at the guards. The guards shouted as their arms and legs froze and collapsed, yelling furiously. The Snip tu rned, wide-eyed, and backed away from Reala like a frightened cat. Reala glared at him. Aldwyn got up, as the Nightmaren troops started recovering, and several others joined them, including Jackle. They rushed toward Aldwyn and Frost. Dunamis rushed headl ong toward Reala and knocked him against a rock, and the other Nightopian troops joined the fight. Alethea pulled Salpinx across the ice to the edge of the gutter. Something grabbed her from behind and she screamed. She was jerked toward the edge, kicking and struggling to get free. Something hit the side of her head hard enough that her head slamme d into the gutter's wall. She was suddenly wrenched backwards again. Alethea saw the momentary shimmer of a blade. " DUNAMIS!" *** Nights woke up and glanced around. He could see Talitha fidgeting nervously in the main part of the infirmary. " Did we make it?" Talitha smiled. " Yes, but the others are going back for Salpinx. Well, some of them any way." " What happened to Salpinx?" Talitha told him. *** Aldwyn finished pounding a 'maren fish and glanced around. More troops were arriving all the time, and before long there would be no chance of getting away. Dunamis slammed into him, and the two of them fell to the ground with Aldwyn underneath. " Sorry." The two 'maren got up. " We have to get out of here! We're completely outnumbered!" " Did you find Salpinx?" Reala was diving toward them. " YES!" " Alright, let's get out of here!" The two 'maren moved out of Reala's way, and Reala followed Dunamis. Someone screamed Dunamis's name and he turned around. Reala headed toward him. Dunamis kicked him in the face. He spotted Jackle trying to yank Alethea out of the gutter. She screamed his name again, and Dunamis nearly ran over Reala, who ducked. Jackle dogged her kicked and tugged again. " LET GO OF ME!" She kicked again, and this time hit him in the face. Jackle suddenly felt something ram into him. He hit the ground and skidded. Jackle leapt at Dunamis and the two of them started fighting. Alethea called for a nearby 'maren cat. He headed to the gutter and picked up Salpinx. " Get him out of here." The 'maren cat hurried away, and Alethea looked for Dunamis. Jackle was pummeling him with cards. Alethea flew over, grabbed the end Jackle's cape, and jerked him backwards. He whirled around and punched her into the castle wall. A lethea heard something crack. Aldwyn watched as the last of the troops raced toward Nightopia. He glanced back at Dunamis, who was busy beating Jackle into pulp. Alethea was on the ground leaning against the wall. " Dunamis, we have to go now!" Dunamis hit Jackle one last time, and rushed down next to Alethea. He picked her up and darted off as fast as he could go. Troops seemed to be appearing out of nowhere, as the two of them raced toward Nightopia.