continues from part five
Part 6: The First Strike
“So, where do we go first?” Quinn asked Xesex as they all walked outside. “You got any ideas?” “The source of the magic is not far from here,” he said. “It is within ten miles. Do you have transportation we can utilize?” “Yeah,” Quinn said, heading towards her garage. “Bought it years ago; never thought I’d use it to help save the world.” Going over, she opened the door, revealing a large RV inside, easily large enough to carry all of them. “Hmm,” Xesex said, looking the craft over. “Primitive, but effective.” Rapping on the walls, he doubted that it was very strong, but at the moment, it was everything they had, so they would have to make the most of it. “We must move out immediately.” “Well then, get on!” Quinn said, heading for the driver’s seat. As the others got on board, Nia stopped. “I can’t leave Jude,” she said. “The lake empties into a river,” Quinn told her as she pulled out the chocks from underneath the wheels. “She’d be able to follow us as we drive along.” Then, darting into the RV, she pulled out a map. “Xesex, can you pinpoint the location of the magic?” His large hands taking the small object, Xesex looked it over, trying to triangulate it. “I am not sure,” he said. “But it should be here.” He tapped a large city on the map. “Ah, you’re in luck,” Quinn told Nia. “The river leads to a harbor next to the city. Your whale can go as far as that.” Nia nodded. “I’ll meet you all there.” “Wait, you’re not coming up with us?” “I’ll ride Jude,” Nia said. “She’s used to it.” Quinn thought, nodded. “All right.” “If you will be riding your whale,” Xesex said, “then I recommend that our group split up. For if I can sense whatever god has entered this realm, he or she will sense me too, and will possibly attempt to attack me en route to the city, regardless of who is with me. If we split our forces, we shall reduce the risk of possible casualties.” Nia thought for a moment. “Jude is used to carrying several people at once,” she said. “Some of you can ride with us.” “I’ll go,” Gromet said. “Always was interested in riding a whale.” From his riding spot on Aalyia’s back, Robert said, “We’ll go as well.” “I’d prefer to ride in the RV,” Vikki said. “That is, Quinn, if you don’t mind.” “Not at all.” “I doubt I shall be able to ride your whale companion,” Prince Theodore said. “So I shall ride within this RV as well.” “Then it is settled,” Xesex said. “Everyone, to your places. We shall meet again at the harbor outside the city.” As Nia, Gromet, Robert, and Aalyia headed down towards the lake, Quinn, Prince Theodore, Xesex, and Vikki squeezed into the RV. It was easy enough for Vikki to get into the passenger seat, but Xesex and Theodore, being larger than humans, had a more difficult time, and almost tore the doors off while getting inside, and even then, it was a very tight fit as they wedged themselves among the appliances. “All right everyone, hang on,” Quinn said, turning the RV on, and sending the giant vehicle onto the road. At the lake, Nia knelt next to the water. She didn’t have to wait long, for Jude quickly swam to the lakeside and partially beached herself. Though curious to see her, Gromet couldn’t help but take a step backwards at seeing just how big she really was. Robert and Aalyia did the same, for Jude was the largest killer whale any of them had ever seen, easily at least thirty feet long, and built of solid muscle. Closing her eyes, Nia put her hand on Judge’s snout, and waited. “Jude understands our situation,” she said after a moment. “She’s willing to carry us to the city.” Gromet tilted his head. “You can talk to whales?” “Only her,” Nia explained. “We share a telepathic bond that no one else has.” “I never heard of whales being telepathic,” Robert said. Even Aalyia, unable to speak, seemed puzzled by the idea. “Then telepathy isn’t common in your world?” Nia asked. “Nope,” Robert said. “No,” Gromet said. “Well, whatever. Now, everyone in.” Robert was confused. “In?” “Yes, in. As in, inside Jude.” None of her companions moved. “You can’t be serious,” Robert said. “Yes, I am,” Nia said. “Jude can swim much faster without anyone riding on her. Plus, if all of us are in her, she can swim under the surface, and go even faster. Still, none of them moved. Rolling her eyes at seeing how far ahead the RV was, and how they were stuck here, Nia said, “Look, I know this sounds strange to you, but Jude’s used to doing this sort of thing. She can swallow people whole, and then regurgitate them up later without digesting them. Same for stuffing people into her womb. We’ve done it for years, with both me, and many other people.” “You stuffed people up her ass?” Robert said. Thunder cracked overhead. “Look, there’s no time!” Nia said. “Now let’s get in there!” As if wanting to encourage the others, Jude opened her mouth as wide as it would go, waiting. Gromet looked at the whale, then to Robert and Aalyia. Shaking his head, he walked over. “I can’t believe I’m doing this,” he muttered. Getting down, he slid into Jude’s mouth, face first. Jude swallowed slightly, pulling him in. Within seconds, his feet vanished from sight. With Gromet gone, Jude opened again, stretching to accommodate Robert and Aalyia. Those two looked at each other, unsure. But then again, after encountering Anubis in the graveyard of abandoned gods, this wasn’t any stranger. Kneeling, Aalyia waited while Robert reached out and pulled himself into Jude’s mouth. There, she swallowed him gently, sucking him into her throat, until his bandaged legs were gone. And then Aalyai got in, wiggling as Jude’s muscles worked, and pulled her in. With the three now safe inside her stomach, Jude rolled over, exposing her tummy. Nia waded in, walking towards Jude’s slit. “I swear, some people just don’t know when to take the leap,” she muttered, putting her feet inside Jude. Once she had been swallowed up to her leg, Nia waited as Jude’s powerful muscles took control, and gently pulled her in, until her head, and then her hair, were sucked in, and vanished from sight. Her slit clenching into a watertight seal, Jude rolled back onto her tummy, then wiggled back into the water. From there, she turned and followed the water out of the lake, and into the river. Taking a deep breath, making sure to get extra air for her passengers, Jude submerged, her powerful tail muscles propelling her through the dark water.
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