Just then a Very Large, very white dog hurries down a set of stairs that everyone probably didn't notice. If a dog can look purposeful, this one does. Once she reaches the bottom step she heads straight over to where the strange little group was assembled, as if she were expecting them. She sits herself down in the middle of the group, and looks up at them expectantly.
A few moments later a little boy in overalls came thumping down the stairs. "'nowball! 'now-" When he reaches the bottom of the stairs he notices the strangers and his eyes grow wide. Then he catches sight of Snowball and not taking his eyes off the others he whispers, "'nowball! Dere people down here!!"
This is wierd... but maybe whoever owns the dog can help Hank! He looks up at the others with a raised eyebrow. William shakes his head and Father McCoy gives the dog an odd look. It is Sparhawk who speaks.
"Ah... there are others here?"
This is confirmed by the sudden appearance of the boy. Billy waves a hand.
"Hello! Ah... we won't hurt you. We are all somewhat lost."
In the way that somewhat meant a huge amount of lostness.
Harold steps towards them tenitively, but he looks at Snowball and gains some courage. It's only after he gets closer that he really sees who has spoken to him.
He frowns at Billy and looks at William. "'nowball say you like him but diffwent." He looks at the two closer and then looks at Snowball. "Dey not same," he says skeptically.
Snowball turns her head towards Hank and Harold steps close to him. "Oh! He BWUE!!! ..'n oder colors. Me know him?" Harold frowns again and studies Hank before looking up at Father McCoy. "You Bwue too."
"My friend is sick. Do you know if there is any where to take him, to get help around here?"
Sparhawk interrupted then.
"And do you know where we are?"
William and Father McCoy both nod, though the priest looks askance at the knight for asking so hurriedly.
Sparhawk sighs again and tries again.
"If you could tell us, it would be appreciated."
Billy watches all of this with impatience. Hank could be dying and... he scrubs his face and hangs on to his nerves. Suddenly he thinks of Cassie and sighs.
Harold blinks. "You in my tastle." He nods before looking back at Hank. Snowball has moved closer to where the doctor is lying and she seems concerned.
Harold frowns. "Tink maybe.." He glances at Snowball then looks back at Hank for a minute. "What wrong?"
Cassie has been lightly pacing the room for the past while. Although her logical side says she should stop worrying and there is nothing she can do about it, something's not right. She feels Billy's worry and concern and anxiousness and he feels far away or..out of focus - almost like a static-y radio station.
So she's been pacing and concentrating when she feels a sort of warmth and love that, even if out of focus, is very familiar. She smiles a little, sits down on the couch and takes a deep breath. As she exhales she sends love and strength to him, as best as she knows how.
Harold nods back at Billy. "Dwaw it. Haf fwuit 'n lot book 'n bed 'n mon'keys!"
His expression turns serious again as he glances at Hank and Snowball again before looking back up at Billy, his eyes slightly uncertain. "Maybe I help?"
Once she reaches the bottom step she heads straight over to where the strange little group was assembled, as if she were expecting them.
She sits herself down in the middle of the group, and looks up at them expectantly.
A few moments later a little boy in overalls came thumping down the stairs. "'nowball! 'now-" When he reaches the bottom of the stairs he notices the strangers and his eyes grow wide.
Then he catches sight of Snowball and not taking his eyes off the others he whispers, "'nowball! Dere people down here!!"
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"What the heck?"
This is wierd... but maybe whoever owns the dog can help Hank! He looks up at the others with a raised eyebrow. William shakes his head and Father McCoy gives the dog an odd look. It is Sparhawk who speaks.
"Ah... there are others here?"
This is confirmed by the sudden appearance of the boy. Billy waves a hand.
"Hello! Ah... we won't hurt you. We are all somewhat lost."
In the way that somewhat meant a huge amount of lostness.
"And my friend... he is hurt bad."
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He frowns at Billy and looks at William.
"'nowball say you like him but diffwent."
He looks at the two closer and then looks at Snowball.
"Dey not same," he says skeptically.
Snowball turns her head towards Hank and Harold steps close to him.
"Oh! He BWUE!!! ..'n oder colors. Me know him?" Harold frowns again and studies Hank before looking up at Father McCoy. "You Bwue too."
Beat.
"How here?"
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Sparhawk watches them and just sighs. He isnt all that good around kids.
Father McCoy is the one who finally speaks up.
"We came here through portals, or doorways, from some other place. We arent sure how we got here really. But we are very glad for the place to rest."
He pats the bean bag chairs.
"Very comfy."
He realizes he should take his time here, so he breathes and watches the young man carefully.
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Harold grins and bounces on one of the beanbag chairs. "Me like dem!"
Snowball gives him a disapproving look and he gets up and comes back to where they are.
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"My friend is sick. Do you know if there is any where to take him, to get help around here?"
Sparhawk interrupted then.
"And do you know where we are?"
William and Father McCoy both nod, though the priest looks askance at the knight for asking so hurriedly.
Sparhawk sighs again and tries again.
"If you could tell us, it would be appreciated."
Billy watches all of this with impatience. Hank could be dying and... he scrubs his face and hangs on to his nerves. Suddenly he thinks of Cassie and sighs.
I love you, babe.
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"You in my tastle." He nods before looking back at Hank.
Snowball has moved closer to where the doctor is lying and she seems concerned.
Harold frowns.
"Tink maybe.."
He glances at Snowball then looks back at Hank for a minute.
"What wrong?"
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So she's been pacing and concentrating when she feels a sort of warmth and love that, even if out of focus, is very familiar. She smiles a little, sits down on the couch and takes a deep breath. As she exhales she sends love and strength to him, as best as she knows how.
I love you..
Be safe.
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"Your... castle?"
Then he nods.
"Hank has been hurt, bad, physically and mentally... and he is afraid and lost."
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"Dwaw it. Haf fwuit 'n lot book 'n bed 'n mon'keys!"
His expression turns serious again as he glances at Hank and Snowball again before looking back up at Billy, his eyes slightly uncertain.
"Maybe I help?"
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"Where.... am... I?"
Father McCoy gently touched his arm.
"You are in a strange place, a Castle. There are several of us here, from at least four universes."
Sparhawk moves forward.
"Save your strength. There will be time enough for speach later."
Or death, he does not add.
William gives him a frustrated glance and shakes his head, looking worried.
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"Hang on, Doc. Just hang on, okay?"
He looks up at Harold.
"Would you try, please?"
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Nearby William throws up an arm and swears, squinting, while Sparhawk and Father McCoy retreat and hold a quiet conversation.
When Harold seems to collapse, it is William who catches him, a soft light on him as he lowers the boy to the ground.
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He cries out once.
"Home!"
And then he shimmers as the light becomes too bright to see, before he changes, shifts and falls backward, a bean bag falling on top of him.
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He doesn't say anything but just looks around, disoriented.
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